Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday that his office will help distribute 7 million free eggs to families across the state through a network of food banks, following antitrust settlements with major egg producers.
Paxton, 62, said Texans will be able to pick up free cartons from at least 17 different food banks as part of the agreement. The Republican is currently campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat held by John Cornyn, facing Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in November’s election.
“I will continue to help our families put food on the table and do everything within my power to lower prices and help Texans who are struggling to make ends meet,” Paxton added in his statement.
The settlements with Cal-Maine Foods, Centrum/Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch were first announced in June after Paxton’s office filed antitrust claims alleging the companies conspired to inflate egg prices between 2022 and 2025. In addition to funding the egg giveaway, the producers must pay $3.3 million to states that joined Texas in the legal action.
Feeding Texas is coordinating with the food banks to handle distribution of the millions of eggs, though specific pickup dates and locations beyond the 17-bank network were not immediately detailed.
The announcement arrives as affordability dominates voter concerns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. A July Pew Research poll found 15% of respondents specifically wanted to hear more about cost-of-living plans from congressional candidates, while at least 29% expressed broader economic worries. An August Fox News poll showed voters viewing President Trump’s handling of the economy at a net-negative 33 percentage points, with surveys indicating Democrats have gained an edge on managing cost-of-living issues.
Egg prices spiked to more than $6 per carton in early 2025 before settling to a national average of about $2.18 per dozen, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The alleged price-fixing conspiracy covered the period when consumers faced some of the steepest increases.
Talarico, Paxton’s Democratic opponent, has organized a competing response to grocery inflation. His “Love Thy Neighbor” food drive collected donations in Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth, Denton and other cities through Tuesday, with distribution beginning Wednesday in Dallas. Additional collection sites in Dallas, Plano, Glenn Heights, Fort Worth and Denton were scheduled to operate from Sunday through Tuesday.
Talarico planned the food drive to coincide with Republicans’ convention, his campaign said, as part of an effort to help Texans struggling with rising grocery prices.
The dueling food-aid efforts highlight how both parties are maneuvering to own the economic messaging in a race that could help determine Senate control. Paxton’s egg giveaway leverages his office’s regulatory power, while Talarico’s volunteer-driven approach emphasizes grassroots organizing.
Paxton’s office did not specify whether the 7 million eggs would be distributed in a single wave or phased over multiple months.