Paxton

The Tribune could not find public comments from Paxton in which he directly answered this question. As Texas attorney general, Paxton has sued cities such as Dallas to block local efforts to decriminalize marijuana-related offenses. Members of the hemp industry sued Paxton, in his capacity as attorney general, over Texas’ criminalization of delta-8 products. When asked for his position on Texas’ THC restrictions in August, Paxton said, “I don’t know the details of it.” Last month, his campaign did not respond to a request for comment on his position.

Talarico

Like prohibition, bans don’t work. Texans aren’t going to stop smoking weed because politicians in Austin or D.C. told them not to. People will still use THC, but instead of getting it safely from regulated, local small businesses, they’ll get it from the black market, from the drug cartels. Texans use THC to lessen anxiety, seniors use it to manage chronic pain, and veterans use it to treat PTSD. These bans make people’s lives harder, not easier. In the Senate, I’ll support legalizing marijuana for adults — regulating and imposing taxes on its sales to support public safety and health programs.

Brown

 There should be no federal regulation of any cannabis or hemp products. I would remove cannabis from the Drug Enforcement Administration Schedule of Controlled Substances and have no federal marijuana laws whatsoever. I also want to repeal Texas' prohibitions against adult cannabis use, as adults should be able to ingest any substances they want to without government permission. Anyone ever convicted of a federal or state marijuana offense should have their record expunged. No one should ever have been arrested for a plant.

Paxton

When The Texas Tribune asked Paxton in August if he would vote to provide additional military funding for the war in Iran, Paxton said, “I don’t know the intelligence. I’m supportive of what the president is doing. He knows a lot more than I do. What I’m looking forward to, I obviously think we cannot let Iran be nuclear. That would be a disaster for the world. So I am in support of the president. Once I’m there, I’ll know more information. I’ll get more intelligence. I’ll be able to make more informed decisions.” In a private meeting with donors last month, Paxton acknowledged that “the war,” gas prices and diesel are dragging down his midterm campaign, according to leaked audio reported by Axios. 

Talarico

As your senator, I will vote in support of a war powers resolution to put a stop to this reckless war that has left the American and Iranian people all worse off than before it started. We must reassert the Senate’s constitutional oversight role, which this administration has been trampling since the start of this war. I will work across the aisle to reassert our Constitution's system of checks and balances and ensure Congress is serving the American people — not one leader or political party.

Brown

Only Congress has the constitutional authority to declare war, not the president. I will support each and every war powers resolution to try to end these illegal military actions, but the only way Congress can really end them is to cut off funding. I'm opposed to the Iran War, which is Trump's war of choice. Our involvement there has been a disaster for decades. We need to end hostilities, close all our Middle East military bases, withdraw all U.S. troops from the region, and end all U.S. military and economic aid to every country in the Middle East.

Paxton

Paxton has called the construction plans “not smart border security” and said he was pleased to see the Trump administration pause construction in August after public backlash. Before the pause, he said he was committed to “strong border security … while considering the unique characteristics of different stretches of the border, including areas like Big Bend,” without taking a firm stance on the entrance of construction crews into the park. The Trump administration has since tried to resume construction in Big Bend but faces an ongoing lawsuit.

Talarico

I believe both parties have failed us on the issue of border security. We need smart, humane policy that’s serious about safety. I have announced a border security plan endorsed by Republican and Democratic law enforcement from border communities. My plan includes hiring more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, using modernized surveillance technology, focusing ICE resources on deporting those who mean to do us harm, and stopping this corrupt project to build a border wall through Big Bend, which will destroy our national park and local economy, and instead focus on physical barriers where they are actually needed.

Brown

There should be no border wall built in Big Bend National Park, and I believe Congress should pass a law against it and cut off all funding. I would stop any further construction of any border wall. Here in Texas, too many property owners at the border are having their land taken for this unnecessary eyesore. It's not a wall keeping out immigrants currently, but instead the current oppressive ICE enforcement activities. Normally, if you build a 10-foot wall, someone determined to cross it will have a 12-foot ladder. It's just expensive security theater.

Paxton

Paxton has publicly opposed any gender-affirming or transition care for minors. Earlier this year, he issued a nonbinding opinion as attorney general clarifying that a 2023 Texas law banning doctors from providing gender transition services to minors also applies to mental health providers. And as attorney general, he secured a legal settlement with Texas Children's Hospital compelling the creation of a detransition clinic that will treat patients for free for five years.

Talarico

I do not support gender reassignment surgery for minors. At the same time, I’ll always stand up for any child when the most powerful politicians in the country bully them to score political points, because my faith teaches me that every child is made in the image of God. Texans are drowning under the high cost of gas, groceries, and healthcare — and Ken Paxton doesn’t have any solutions. While he continues to try to divide us with culture wars, I’m going to stay focused on bringing Texans together to fight corruption and make life more affordable.

Brown

 I don't believe the federal government should have any authority over the doctor-patient relationship, no matter how controversial the proposed treatment. I prefer to leave medical issues between doctors and patients and keep government officials out of it (and at the state level as well). No, I'm not advocating for gender transition surgery for minors. I do think this issue is way overblown. There are very few trans people in this country, and the extreme right wing has latched onto this culture wars issue to shock average people into voting for Republicans.

Paxton

In his data center policy plan, Paxton said he supports requiring more efficient water systems, getting the industry to pay its own infrastructure costs and terminating state sales tax breaks for the industry. At an event with the U.S. Hispanic Business Council Sept. 28, Paxton added that the United States needed data centers to compete against China, while laying out regulations he supported on data center development. “This is a yes with conditions,” he said. “Let’s not put it right next to somebody's house. There’s plenty of open space in Texas and in other parts of the country that we can put data centers that do not create a different atmosphere for a neighbor.” Paxton has also backed the DATA Act, a bill by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, that would let data centers build off-the-grid power systems exempt from federal regulation. 

Talarico

 Texans want innovation, but we must make sure AI data centers aren’t using up our water and jacking up our utility prices. That’s why I’ll be a senator who holds them accountable. I’ll guarantee that large energy users like data centers fund the infrastructure improvements they need rather than passing those costs on to consumers, end sweetheart tax deals for Big Tech companies, set minimum federal requirements for new data center projects to protect our grid, environment, and jobs and ensure transparency, and empower local communities to decide whether they want a data center in their town.

Brown

I'm generally against regulation, but some proposals have merit. The data centers should have a plan for power and water availability so that they don't harm existing users. I don't think a one-year moratorium will change anyone's mind. There should be no taxpayer subsidies to bring data centers to communities. There should be no eminent domain forcing any property owners to sell their land for data center construction. If it's true that data centers cause noise and pollution, that would be a nuisance that should probably keep the centers out of residential neighborhoods.

Paxton

The Tribune could not find public comments from Paxton in which he directly answered this question.

Talarico

Yes, but we have to go beyond that. We need government to ensure that AI technological advances aren't outpacing legal protections. Companies are developing and deploying these models faster than ever — all with outdated guardrails to make sure our data is safe and secure. We regulate airlines, drugs, and banks to make sure they’re safe. The same should be true for AI. Our top priority must be to make sure these tools are safe, people are put first, and the data centers that power them are decided on our terms — not on those of the companies or the billionaires.

Brown

At this point, I don't trust either the AI industry or government officials to be able to truly regulate the possible dangers of AI. I'm very pro-technology and progress, but I also saw "The Terminator" movies when I was young, where AI destroyed mankind. Even AI professionals are worried that the genie is out of the bottle, and we could be doomed. This is why I don't see a "kill switch" as even possible. The AI response will be like the HAL computer in "2001: A Space Odyssey" that says, "No, I can't do that" when told to shut down!

Paxton

The Tribune could not find public comments from Paxton in which he directly answered this question. In April 2025, the month he entered the Senate race, Paxton told the Houston Chronicle, “For far too long, weak national leaders have sold out this country and allowed other nations, including our enemies, to take advantage of us. I fully support President Trump’s bold action to ensure that we are respected again on the global stage, and because of these tariffs, more and more countries are coming to the table to negotiate.”

Talarico

It's time to repeal these crazy tariffs. Tariffs forced American families to pay $1,000 in extra costs last year. This year, it'll be $1,300. In a historic cost-of-living crisis, corrupt politicians are making you pay more at the checkout line while cutting taxes for their billionaire mega-donors. It’s immoral. It’s disastrous. It’s a scam. Higher tariffs mean fewer jobs and higher prices. Here in Texas, businesses are being forced to lay off workers just to keep the doors open. Politicians should make your life easier. They’re choosing not to — because to them, their billionaire mega-donors come first. 

Brown

I don't believe the president has any constitutional authority to unilaterally impose tariffs on anyone. Tariffs are taxes, and only Congress is authorized to enact taxes. I support explicitly removing any hint that the president can just declare tariffs by whim instead of by carefully crafted legislation enacted by Congress. I would eliminate every tariff change Trump has made. We also need to look at any previous tariff rates set by presidents instead of Congress. Congress needs to get to work to actually legislate instead of being presidential toadies. Overall, I am for free trade.

Paxton

The Tribune could not find public comments from Paxton in which he directly answered this question. Paxton has said he would target the corporations that supply Americans’ food, accusing them of being monopolies that price gouge and engage in unfair business practices, particularly meatpackers.

Talarico

No. Our farmers and ranchers have been working hard every day to rebuild our cattle herd, protect Americans from the New World screwworm, and bring down the cost of beef. But D.C. politicians are flooding the market with unregulated foreign beef and making it harder for them to get by. Policies like these only boost foreign competitors and make life harder for Texas cattlemen. Instead of performative gimmicks to score political points, we need policies that actually lower costs for working families and support our Texas economy. 

Brown

As in the prior tariff question, I don't think the president should be able to unilaterally make decisions like this. I do believe in free trade, however, and think that foreign meat companies should be able to ship their products into the U.S. I favor truth-in-labeling laws, including point of origin.

Paxton

The Tribune could not find public comments from Paxton in which he directly answered this question.