James Talarico, a Texas Democrat running for U.S. Senate, accused his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, of giving a sex offender a light jail sentence.
The lenient plea deal generated plenty of headlines and criticism, but Talarico drew even more attention to it in a May interview — accusing Paxton of doling out “Epstein-style sweetheart deals to pedophiles.”
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Theaccusation in the Texas Senate raceis one of many attacks related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the 2026 midterm elections, mostly coming from Democrats. Opposition researchers have scoured candidate records, looking for donations by people with Epstein ties, highlighting votes on releasing the Epstein files or digging up any tenuous connection to Epstein.
Epstein’s life — and his lenient sweetheart deal in Florida on state charges — is a tale about extreme wealth, sex, violence, power and lack of government transparency. He has spurred mysteries and conspiracy theories, including about his death. Associations with him have had consequences forpowerfulpeople, while the handling ofEpstein’s caseor investigativefilesled to an early exit for two of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet members.
“The Epstein saga, undoubtedly, has captured the attention of the American public,” said Alex Coppock, a Northwestern University political scientist. “There are long-lasting and recurring news cycles about every aspect of the Epstein story, especially as new troves of information are made available and then new political figures are in turn connected to Epstein.”
Many candidates have taken swipes at elites by criticizing the“Epstein class”— a nod to rich, high-powered people from both political parties who mingled with Epstein. Some candidates runningagainst the party establishmenthave cited Epstein.
“If you’re part of the billionaire Epstein class that’s destroying the greatest nation on the planet, your days in control are numbered,” said Dan Osborn, an independent running for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, in an Aug. 6X post.
Voters told pollsters this year their top concerns are about theeconomy,inflation and cost of living. So why so manyadsabout Epstein?
People take candidates’ character into account when voting, so campaign statements about the “Epstein class” could be a message to voters. The line of attack also plays into anti-elite messaging.
“Research on political advertising attacks suggest that negative advertising works when it’s relevant to voters — as perhaps the Epstein saga is relevant when it signals a candidate’s character weakness,” said Kim Fridkin, an Arizona State University professor who has researched negative campaigning.
Most Americans disapprove of Epstein and those who protected him, said Erika Franklin Fowler, Wesleyan University government professor.
The issue of corruption and ethics cuts across political parties. AYouGov pollfound 85% of Americans — including 94% of Democrats and 84% of Republicans — think powerful elites helped Epstein target girls for sex crimes and they should be investigated.
Voters are sincere when they say they care about issues such as the economy or immigration. However, Coppock said, “It’s difficult to break through the media noise with messages about those issues whereas attacks that connect your opponent to one of the most difficult to look away from news stories in a decade is effective at grabbing attention.”
Battling to end Sen. Ed Markey’s 50-year congressional career, fellow Democrat Rep. Seth Moulton unleashed a fresh attack on a Massachusetts debate stage weeks before the primary.
