Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently stated that the United States celebrated its 200th anniversary on July 4. The U.S. actually marked its 250th anniversary this year. Paxton made the remark during a rally in Corpus Christi, Texas.
His campaign has faced criticism, with voters previously labeling him "a criminal," "a crook," and "corrupt." Paxton's opponent, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, quickly pointed out that Paxton was photographed in London on July 4 with Christian influencer Tracy Duhon.
Social media users also reacted to Paxton's historical misstatement. Some noted that Paxton spent the July 4 holiday abroad, which might explain his confusion about the country's age. Talarico currently leads Paxton in polls for the Texas Senate race, with RealClearPolitics showing Talarico at 48.5% and Paxton at 46.7%.