Texas Democratic chair unloads on Ken Paxton: ‘If brains were dynamite, he couldn’t blow his nose’

Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder called Republicans Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton “chicken shit” for avoiding debates with their Democratic opponents during a Saturday morning appearance on MS NOW’s The Weekend.

“Frankly, if I had to defend their record, I wouldn’t want to show up on a debate stage either,” Scudder said.

His remarks came after cohost Eugene Daniels questioned why Republicans were attacking Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico’s masculinity while neither Paxton nor Abbott had agreed to debate their challengers. Abbott is seeking a fourth term against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. Paxton, the state’s attorney general, faces Talarico, also a state representative, for the Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn.

Related: Kari Lake turns James Talarico’s flu recovery into a ridiculous ‘bottom surgery’ conspiracy theory

The program aired footage of a Dallas NBC affiliate reporter asking Abbott why he wouldn’t debate Hinojosa. Abbott defended his approach of visiting communities and speaking directly with voters.

“I know what it is and what it takes to actually win a race for governor. I’ve done it before,” Abbott said. “One thing is that I’m hearing these voters appreciate me showing up.”

“Showing up anywhere but a debate stage,” Daniels quipped. He pointed to Republican attacks invoking Talarico’s testosterone levels and questioning his masculinity, then asked why the candidates would not face their opponents.

Scudder accused the Republicans of lacking the courage to debate and challenged Abbott’s explanation.

“If what’s important to Greg Abbott is showing up in communities, I don’t know why he didn’t do it for the last 12 years he was governor,” Scudder said.

He accused Abbott of failing Texans on taxes, public safety, public schools, and rural hospitals while supporting data center development.

“What a joke. He’s a clown,” Scudder said.

Turning to Paxton, Scudder said, “And the reason Ken Paxton won’t get on stage is because he’s just frankly not very bright.”

“If brains were dynamite, he couldn’t blow his nose,” he added.

“Lord. Kendall, it’s early morning, sir,” Daniels interjected.

“I appreciate it,” cohost Jonathan Capehart said.

Cohost Jackie Alemany added a personal observation before thanking Scudder. “My son’s learning how to blow his nose right now,” she said.

Related: JD Vance, who once thought he was gay before changing his name twice, suggests James Talarico is gay

Democrats press for debates as Texas races tighten

The exchange comes as Democrats seek to force public confrontations in two competitive statewide contests.

Abbott debated his Democratic opponents in each of his three previous gubernatorial campaigns, The Texas Tribune reported. Hinojosa accepted four debate invitations this cycle. Paxton’s campaign said in July that he would debate but has accepted none. Talarico had accepted at least four invitations and had also challenged Paxton to appear on Fox News.

Hinojosa appeared outside the governor’s mansion Thursday with an empty lectern beside her, while Abbott held a campaign event in Tyler, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Talarico participated in a CNN and Jubilee town hall Wednesday without Paxton, who declined the invitation. His campaign organized watch parties titled “This Could’ve Been a Debate.” The race could help determine control of the Senate, where Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win the majority.

Recent polling has given Democrats an opening. A University of Texas at Austin survey put Talarico ahead by 3 percentage points and Hinojosa ahead by 1 point, both within the margin of error, the Houston Chronicle reported. A separate Marist survey put Abbott ahead by 4 points among likely voters. No Democrat has won statewide in Texas since 1994.

Related: James Talarico tells Rachel Maddow how bigoted, anti-trans politics distract from GOP corruption

Anti-trans campaign strategy draws Republican criticism

The debate dispute also comes as Republicans face questions within their own party about their continued emphasis on attacking transgender people.

Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan told Texas Monthly that Republicans were neglecting voters’ priorities, The Advocate reported Friday.

“We’re still running transgender ads. It’s just not resonating,” Phelan said.

Paxton’s campaign has made LGBTQ+ issues a prominent part of its attacks on Talarico. In September, the campaign released an AI-generated video depicting Talarico delivering a fictional monologue about Christianity and gender, putting words in the Democrat’s mouth in a performance he never gave.

Elon Musk’s America PAC has also targeted Talarico and other Democratic Senate candidates with advertising about transgender athletes and gender-affirming care.

Talarico’s own positions on LGBTQ+ rights have recently drawn scrutiny. At Wednesday’s town hall, he defended the theological argument behind his past statement that God is nonbinary while endorsing a national ban on gender-affirming surgeries for minors.

His campaign also initially declined to reaffirm its support for the Equality Act when The Washington Post questioned it, then said it stood by its earlier written commitment.

Watch Kendall Scudder interview with MS NOW’s The Weekend below.

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