<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The centrepiece race of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/us-election" rel="" target="" title="US midterm elections"><span>US midterm elections</span></a><span> has rapidly turned nasty, with one of the most senior staffers of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/white-house" rel="" target="" title="White House"><span>White House</span></a><span> getting in a profane spat with Democrats online.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/stephen-miller-trump-advisor-a-racist-claims-ex-breitbart-katie-mchugh/3d8b0b19-d778-4bb0-815c-1b2def967698" rel="" target="" title="White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller"><span>White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller</span></a><span> posted a photo on X of Democratic candidate </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/stephen-colbert-cbs-james-talarico-texas-senate-race-brendan-carr-fcc/2d217255-ac5b-4c78-afb2-fe00924a16f4" rel="" target="" title="James Talarico"><span>James Talarico</span></a><span> with an inaccurate caption.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Democrats made history in Texas by nominating their first transgender senate candidate," Miller wrote.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/tom-kean-missing-congressman-representative-usa-politics-news/28a222e5-489f-48ac-9c60-83acfd8cd663" rel="" target="" title="Congressman hasn't been seen for 12 weeks, won't say why"><strong><span>Congressman hasn't been seen for 12 weeks, won't say why</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Talarico is not transgender and has never claimed to be.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the official account of the Democratic Party was not diplomatic in their response.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Shut up you ugly f—," the account said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/james-talarico-ken-paxton-steven-miller-texas-senate-race-us-politics-news/ba588f05-4814-461b-ba49-ca826d99c086" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Miller's wife Katie hit back by posting a photo of the woman who runs the Democrats' official X account.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She's 30, unmarried with no kids," Mrs Miller said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is what a sad, unhappy, female Liberal looks like. It's why Pew reports 50% of them have been diagnosed with a mental condition."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A follow-up post from Stephen Miller showed Talarico eating a turkey leg with the caption: "He's transitioning".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Republicans, including </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span>, have falsely accused Talarico of being a vegan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier today Trump posted a side-by-side image of Talarico and MAD magazine character Alfred E Neuman.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This Weak on Crime, Open Borders Dumocrat, can never be allowed to represent the Great People of Texas," Trump wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"His 'values' are the exact opposite!!!"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ken-paxton-john-cornyn-texas-primary-senate-election-results-james-talarico-us-politics-news/30df77e4-6968-41dd-bdf7-7abe24e83ea3"><strong><span>Trump's handpicked candidate may cost his party their most important state</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The attacks on Talarico reflect </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ken-paxton-john-cornyn-texas-primary-senate-election-results-james-talarico-us-politics-news/30df77e4-6968-41dd-bdf7-7abe24e83ea3" rel="" target="" title="increasing nervousness among Republicans"><span>increasing nervousness among Republicans</span></a><span> that he may be the first Democrat since 1992 to be elected to the Senate from Texas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Talarico has been tied or ahead of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-gay-sex-sodomy-ban-crime-criminalised-supreme-court-us-politics-news/c788aeee-7c8c-493d-a2cb-7863c7469a6b" rel="" target="" title="Republican candidate Ken Paxton"><span>Republican candidate Ken Paxton</span></a><span> in every poll of the race taken since January.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One poll released earlier this week showed the Democrat seven points ahead of Paxton.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite his conservative credentials in a conservative state, Paxton is uncommonly unpopular for a Republican in Texas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is in large part because of a series of scandals the politician has faced.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As Texas attorney-general, his own staff reported him to the FBI with bribery and corruption accusations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paxton then fired the whistleblowers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was impeached by the state House of Representatives but kept his job after a vote to remove him failed by a single vote in the Texas Senate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jill-biden-joe-biden-debate-stroke-donald-trump-presidential-election-2024-usa-news/2e702b78-edd8-4b8d-8595-4ca2d99daf0a" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Jill Biden thought Joe Biden was having a stroke during debate</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In 2015, he was arrested while attorney-general and charged with security fraud, paying a $A400,000 fine and doing 200 hours of community service in a deal with prosecutors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was also caught on CCTV pocketing another lawyer's $A1400 pen when it had been left behind at a metal detector.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His wife Angela filed for divorce last year on "biblical grounds", alleging adultery. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He is also facing criticism after his office made a plea deal with a lawyer accused of abusing a child.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Adam Hoffman was facing a life sentence, but instead made a deal with Paxton's office to see him serve just 60 days behind bars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was released after 30 days last week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-international-flights-direct-from-australia-markwayne-mullin-donald-trump-los-angeles-san-francisco/e20bbfd8-cb36-49e5-881d-da521cf48745" rel="" target="" title="Trump plan would stop Australians flying to most popular US destinations"><strong><span>Trump plan would stop Australians flying to most popular US destinations</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>