James Talarico has challenged fellow Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton to take part in a debate hosted by TMZ, after Paxton said he would agree to a televised contest under the right conditions.
Talarico responded after Paxton rejected CNN as a possible venue. Talarico had proposed Fox as an alternative, but Paxton did not accept that suggestion.
The latest proposal would see the two rivals face each other in a TMZ-hosted debate, with Jacob and Charlie suggested as moderators. The proposed format has not been agreed by Paxton.
Talarico also addressed comments from fellow Texan Matthew McConaughey, who recently criticised the two-party political system. The Senate candidate said McConaughey had a point and backed the actor as a potential third-party candidate for an unspecified office in Texas.
During the discussion, Talarico was also asked about criticism that he did not fit expectations of a traditionally macho candidate. He offered a response intended to counter that criticism, though no further details were given.
