The centrepiece race of the US midterm elections has rapidly turned nasty, with one of the most senior staffers of the White House getting in a profane spat with Democrats online.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller posted a photo on X of Democratic candidate James Talarico with an inaccurate caption.
"The Democrats made history in Texas by nominating their first transgender senate candidate," Miller wrote.
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Talarico is not transgender and has never claimed to be.
But the official account of the Democratic Party was not diplomatic in their response.
"Shut up you ugly f—," the account said.
Miller's wife Katie hit back by posting a photo of the woman who runs the Democrats' official X account.
"She's 30, unmarried with no kids," Mrs Miller said.
"This is what a sad, unhappy, female Liberal looks like. It's why Pew reports 50% of them have been diagnosed with a mental condition."
A follow-up post from Stephen Miller showed Talarico eating a turkey leg with the caption: "He's transitioning".
Republicans, including Donald Trump, have falsely accused Talarico of being a vegan.
Earlier today Trump posted a side-by-side image of Talarico and MAD magazine character Alfred E Neuman.
"This Weak on Crime, Open Borders Dumocrat, can never be allowed to represent the Great People of Texas," Trump wrote.
"His 'values' are the exact opposite!!!"
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The attacks on Talarico reflect increasing nervousness among Republicans that he may be the first Democrat since 1992 to be elected to the Senate from Texas.
Talarico has been tied or ahead of Republican candidate Ken Paxton in every poll of the race taken since January.
One poll released earlier this week showed the Democrat seven points ahead of Paxton.
Despite his conservative credentials in a conservative state, Paxton is uncommonly unpopular for a Republican in Texas.
This is in large part because of a series of scandals the politician has faced.
As Texas attorney-general, his own staff reported him to the FBI with bribery and corruption accusations.
Paxton then fired the whistleblowers.
He was impeached by the state House of Representatives but kept his job after a vote to remove him failed by a single vote in the Texas Senate.
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In 2015, he was arrested while attorney-general and charged with security fraud, paying a $A400,000 fine and doing 200 hours of community service in a deal with prosecutors.
He was also caught on CCTV pocketing another lawyer's $A1400 pen when it had been left behind at a metal detector.
His wife Angela filed for divorce last year on "biblical grounds", alleging adultery.
He is also facing criticism after his office made a plea deal with a lawyer accused of abusing a child.
Adam Hoffman was facing a life sentence, but instead made a deal with Paxton's office to see him serve just 60 days behind bars.
He was released after 30 days last week.
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