Democrat James Talarico may have no official role in the GOP’s Dallas convention, but the Texas Senate candidate is countering the two-day event with campaign tactics meant to draw in new supporters and provoke Republican rival Ken Paxton.

Talarico is pivoting toward the center in the toss-up race by releasing a steady drip of across-the-aisle endorsements and moderating his stances using Fox News, a network frequently watched by Republicans, to walk back some of his past controversial remarks on gender.