Former Texas attorney general aide, Paxton whistleblower backs Talarico in attack ad

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico released a new advertisement with a former aide to his Republican rival , Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

According to The Texas Tribune, David Maxwell spent close to 10 years as the Texas attorney general’s director of law enforcement . Six years ago, Paxton was reported to the FBI by Maxwell and other officials, who asserted that the attorney general inappropriately utilized his office for his friend and political donor’s advantage. Maxwell and the other officials were fired in the wake of reporting on Paxton.

Maxwell backs Talarico in the ad , released Monday, saying, “Ken Paxton ended my five-decade career because I blew the whistle on his corruption.”

“I am supporting James Talarico for the U.S. Senate,” he adds.

Democrats usually have an uphill battle in the Lone Star State , but Paxton comes with notable baggage. The Texas attorney general has been dogged by scandal, previously facing impeachment in the Texas state House on corruption charges before being acquitted in the Texas Senate.

A recent poll showed Talarico was leading Paxton in the Senate race, with 47 percent supporting the Democrat and 40 percent backing the Republican.

Talarico is also facing a favorable electoral environment as November’s general election draws closer, with Democrats leading Republicans on generic congressional ballots, President Trump’s slumping approval rating and the unpopular war in Iran stretching past the six-month mark recently.

According to a polling average from Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s approval rating was sitting at 38.8 percent Tuesday evening, while his disapproval rating was at 56.7 percent.

The Hill has reached out to Paxton’s campaign for comment.