Talarico campaign touts endorsement from man Paxton allegedly stole pen from
Texas Democrat James Talarico releases ad featuring attorney Joe Joplin, who says Republican Ken Paxton took his $1,000 Montblanc pen 14 years ago.
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What to know
- Talarico's campaign released an ad featuring endorsement from Joe Joplin, who says Paxton stole his $1,000 Montblanc pen at a courthouse in 2012—an incident captured on security camera.
- Paxton's office said at the time it was a mistake; his 2018 attorney general opponent also highlighted the incident.
- The ad frames the pen theft as a character contrast, calling Paxton 'the kind of guy who steals your pen' and Talarico 'the kind of guy who'd let you borrow his.'
- The endorsement gained significant traction on social media, with Democratic accounts calling it the 'best ad of the year' as the Texas Senate race intensifies.
How it unfolded
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Democratic social media accounts shared the endorsement video, with one calling it 'the best ad we've seen all year.'
“This is the best ad we've seen all year.”
@DemocraticWins · X ↗ -
Talarico's official campaign account posted the endorsement ad with the tagline 'Ken Paxton stole someone's $1,000 pen...Today, Ken Paxton's pen victim is endorsing James Talarico,' gaining over 4,400 likes.
“14 years ago today, Ken Paxton stole someone's $1,000 pen. Today, Ken Paxton's pen victim is endorsing James Talarico.”
@TeamTalaricoHQ · X ↗ -
James Talarico's Senate campaign filmed Joe Joplin posing with the pen and released an ad featuring his endorsement. Campaign spokesman JT Ellis characterized Paxton as someone who steals and Talarico as someone who would lend.
“the kind of guy who steals your pen...the kind of guy who'd let you borrow his”
JT Ellis · Mastodon ↗ - 450 weeks quiet
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Paxton's Democratic opponent for attorney general highlighted the incident during their race.
- 313 weeks quiet
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Joe Joplin left his $1,000 Montblanc pen, a gift from his wife, in a dish near a courthouse metal detector. Security camera footage captured Ken Paxton picking it up and walking away.
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A spokesman for the Texas attorney general explained at the time that Paxton had made a mistake in taking the pen.
What people are saying verbatim
“14 years ago today, Ken Paxton stole someone's $1,000 pen. Today, Ken Paxton's pen victim is endorsing James Talarico.”
@TeamTalaricoHQ, Talarico campaign account · X ↗ · Aug 13
“the kind of guy who steals your pen and Talarico the kind of guy who'd let you borrow his.”
JT Ellis, Campaign spokesman · Semafor ↗ · Aug 13
“This is the best ad we've seen all year.”
@DemocraticWins, Democratic social media account · X ↗ · Aug 13
“Joe Joplin's pen, a gift from his wife, became a source of controversy after he left it in a dish near a courthouse metal detector, after which a security camera captured Paxton picking it up and walking away.”
Semafor, News outlet · Semafor
The conversation unedited, verbatim
169 comments claimed on the threads · 7 collected here from 2 sites · 7 voices below over time ↑
- Yesterday
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Man Whose Pen Was Stolen By Paxton Backs Talarico - Joe.My.God. https://www. joemygod.com/2026/08/man-whose -pen-was-stolen-by-paxton-backs-talarico/
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Exclusive: Talarico touts endorsement from man who accused Paxton of stealing his pen https://www. semafor.com/article/08/14/2026 /talarico-endorsed-by-man-who-accused-paxton-of-stealing-his-pen?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Trending @ trending-thenewsdesk
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What kind of slimy, entitled asshole steals someone else’s $1,000 pen? Ken Paxton. That’s who. The same guy who wants Texans to trust him with the U.S. Senate. Watch this. Then tell me he deserves a promotion.
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BREAKING: In a shocking new video, a man who was robbed by Ken Paxton is now endorsing James Talarico. This is the best ad we've seen all year.
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Joe Joplin’s pen, a gift from his wife, became a source of controversy after he left it in a dish near a courthouse metal detector, after which a security camera captured Paxton picking it up and walking away. Read more from David Weigel:
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🟡 NEW: James Talarico’s Senate campaign is celebrating an endorsement from an unlikely political figure — a Texas attorney who once accused Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton of stealing his $1,000 Montblanc pen.
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NEW AD: 14 years ago today, Ken Paxton stole someone's $1,000 pen. Today, Ken Paxton’s pen victim is endorsing James Talarico.