Who is Jacob Smith? Former Cornyn staffer defects to James Talarico

A longtime Republican congressional staffer has crossed party lines to join Democratic state Representative James Talarico’s campaign for the U.S. Senate in Texas.

Jacob Smith, who spent five years working for Republican Senator John Cornyn as a deputy legislative director and policy adviser, will serve as Talarico’s deputy policy director, the latter's campaign has confirmed to Newsweek.

“I’ve worked for Republicans like Senator Cornyn my entire career,” Smith said in a statement sent to Newsweek , adding that he was “proud” to join Talarico’s campaign this year. He praised the Democrat’s focus on lowering costs and improving economic opportunities for Texans.

Smith also urged fellow Republicans to oppose Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the GOP Senate nominee, describing him as unfit for office. Paxton defeated Cornyn in a bitter Republican primary runoff earlier this year, setting up a general election contest against Talarico.

Campaign staffers rarely move directly from serving a prominent elected official in one party to helping the opposing party win the same Senate seat.

Cornyn, in a reply on X to confirmation of the move, wrote: "[O]nly in authoritarian countries does someone else get to decide where you work. Not in Texas. Those concerned might want to channel their energy into broadening [Republican] outreach to a coalition of voters rather than just those already converted."

Newsweek has contacted Cornyn’s office, via email outside of normal working hours on Tuesday, for comment.

Smith cast his decision as a rejection of partisan loyalty and an endorsement of Talarico’s economic message, while sharply criticizing Republican nominee Ken Paxton.

In the statement provided to Newsweek, Smith said: “Instead of playing partisan politics, Talarico speaks to the needs of everyday people who day in and day out work too hard for too little. In the Senate, James will fight to lower costs for all 31 million Texans, whether they’re Republicans, Democrats, or independents, so that Texans of all ages have a fighting chance at the American Dream of starting a family, owning a home, and leaving a little behind for their children.

“Ken Paxton is the most corrupt, self-dealing politician in Texas who would sell their futures to the highest contributor just to hold onto power. I’m encouraging all my fellow Republicans who know Ken Paxton is unfit to serve in the Senate to finally hold him accountable at the ballot box.”

The appeal to Smith’s “fellow Republicans” points to a central challenge for Talarico ahead of the November election. A Democrat has not won a statewide race in Texas since 1994, meaning Talarico will likely need both strong Democratic turnout and support from independents and Republican voters unwilling to back Paxton.

Smith has spent his career working on policy for Republican lawmakers in Washington.

He started working for Cornyn in July 2019 and has occupied several roles until 2026, including policy adviser and deputy legislative director to the Texas senator, according to smith's LinkedIn page and LegiStorm.

From February 2023 to January 2024, he served as professional staff member at the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Earlier in his career, from June 2016 to July 2019, he was legislative aide and legislative correspondent to Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Wicker currently chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee and is a senior member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

In 2016, Smith earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Mississippi and later received a master's degree in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University.

Paxton enters the general election after a contentious Republican primary where concerns about his track record became a major issue.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has said in a statement that Ken Paxton is “so corrupt that even his own party tried to remove him from office,” referring to his 2023 impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House, which approved 20 articles against him.

Paxton was impeached over alleged bribery and abuse of public trust. The investigation stemmed from a proposed whistleblower lawsuit settlement, involving several of Paxton's former aides who said they were fired after accusing the attorney general of accepting bribes and other misconduct.

The Senate acquitted him. Paxton denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly dismissed the impeachment and other allegations as politically motivated.

Talarico has sought to make corruption and affordability central themes of the campaign, presenting himself as an alternative for voters dissatisfied with both parties.

Smith’s appointment could help reinforce that pitch by giving a Republican voice to Talarico’s effort to attract crossover voters. Democratic consultant Steve Schale told Mediaite that Republican validators could make GOP voters feel more comfortable breaking with their party and supporting a Democrat.

Cornyn described Smith’s move as a “personal decision by Jacob” to Mediaite. The senator has previously said he would support the Republican ticket in November.

Recent polls showing Talarico and Paxton trading narrow leads. The latest survey, from Emerson College and sponsored by Nexstar, was conducted August 9-10 among 1,000 likely voters. It found Paxton ahead 47 percent to 46 percent, with 5 percent undecided and 2 percent backing another candidate. The poll had a margin of error of approximately 3 percentage points.

That poll broke a string of surveys that had Talarico slightly ahead.

A YouGov Blue poll sponsored by 254 Labs, conducted July 15-31 among 1,001 likely voters, found Talarico leading 48 percent to 45 percent.

A Wedgewood Polls survey of 800 likely voters conducted July 30-31 showed Talarico ahead 48 percent to 46 percent, with 6 percent undecided. A Texas Pulse poll sponsored by ReconMR and the Texas A&M Bush School, conducted July 27-30 among 619 likely voters, put Talarico ahead 47 percent to 43 percent.

Other recent surveys have also shown a tight race. A Fox News poll conducted July 23-27 found Talarico leading 51 percent to 48 percent. A New York Times/Siena poll conducted in June found the candidates tied at 47 percent each.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Yannick Demoustier.