'Drag Race' Star Alyssa Edwards Pens Powerful Open Letter To Ken Paxton After He Uses Her To Attack James Talarico

On September 14, the RNC (Republican National Committee) Research X account posted a video clip, without crediting who filmed it, showing a campaign event attendee approaching Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico to shake his hand and ask him who his favorite drag queen was. Talarico replied it was probably his fellow Texan, Alyssa Edwards.

The clip went viral, garnering over 7 million views on X, and was reposted across social media.

Edwards is the drag persona of trained dancer, choreographer, and business owner Justin Johnson, who was born and raised in Mesquite, Texas, where he also owns and operates dance studio Beyond Belief Dance Company.

Johnson’s life in and out of drag, studio, and students were the subjects of the Netflix docuseries Dancing Queen in 2018, and his dancers competed on the 16th season of America's Got Talent in 2021 where Johnson also appeared as Edwards.

In other words, a Texan being able to name Alyssa Edwards as their favorite drag queen isn't an obscure reference.

Even before appearing on 2013's season five of RuPaul's Drag Race, Johnson's alter-ego Edwards was a well-known performer in the world of drag pageants, having won the national titles 2006 Miss Gay USofA and Miss Gay America and All American Goddess, both in 2010.

A Drag Race fan favorite for her meme-able moments in...

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...and out of drag...

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...her tongue pop, and witty catchphrases, Edwards returned for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2 in 2016 and the inaugural season of RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars in 2024, which she won.

After learning that Talarico named her his favorite drag queen, Edwards posted a message thanking him on her TikTok.

In it, Edwards said:

"Thank you, James, for celebrating a fellow Texan. And while we may live two very different lives, that's exactly the point. We don't have to live alike or agree on everything to respect one another."

You can see Edwards video here:

But the RNC didn't post the clip to show Texans supporting and respecting each other.

They did it to try to hurt Talarico's campaign and support his opponent, North Dakota-born and California and New York-raised Ken Paxton.

The controversial MAGA Texas Attorney General has been plagued by scandals over past fraudulent business dealings, infidelity, ethics inquiries after his staff reported corruption, trading political favors for a job for his mistress, giving a sweetheart deal to a pedophile, and being impeached for corruption and bribery by GOP members of the Texas legislature.

The RNC captioned their post attacking Edwards for working with children.

Right-wing media outlets and MAGA influencers, like Chaya Raichik's Libs of TikTok, targeted Edwards as well to bolster Paxton’s campaign. Paxton himself reshared the RNC clip to attack Talarico.

Paxton captioned his reshare:

"What normal person can name their favorite drag queen this quickly?"

"When James Talarico isn’t advocating for children to dress in drag, he’s watching drag performances and saying that Texas produces the best drag queens."

"James Talarico is too weird and too radical for Texas."

Paxton also posted a compilation directly attacking Edwards/Johnson, captioned:

"Meet Alyssa Edwards: James Talarico’s favorite sick and twisted drag queen."

The clip mixed adults only moments from Drag Race and Dancing Queen with clips of Johnson at his dance studio to tarnish the Texas business owner's reputation.

reply to @KenPaxtonTX/X

Edwards as Justin Johnson responded to Paxton and his band of bullies with an open letter, writing:

"...I’m not sure I fully understand your motive or intention in attempting to disparage my name, my character, or my reputation. But I do know this: the way we choose to speak about others often says far more about our own character than it ever will about theirs."

"As a Texan and a very proud one at that, I would hope that your focus would remain on policy, leadership, and what you intend to provide for the future of ALL Texans."

@AlyssaEdwards_1/X

After writing about their accomplishments and Christian faith, Johnson shared:

"Ultimately, I am proud of who I am. I know who I am. I know what I stand for, and what I still hope to accomplish."

Then in a nod to the footage in Paxton’s attack video, he added:

"And if you happened to catch my Netflix docuseries along the way, I sincerely hope you enjoyed it."

Johnson concluded:

"Texas is big enough for all of us."

He then signed as Justin Johnson "With Texas pride."

People were firmly Team Alyssa Edwards/Justin Johnson on both Paxton’s posts...

...and the post from Edwards' X account.

Talarico and Paxton will face off in November to see who fills incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn's seat. Dancing Queen is available for streaming on Netflix.