Democratic candidate James Talarico surges in Texas Senate race as Ken Paxton leans on billionaire cash and Trump-backed muscle
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James Talarico holds a polling and fundraising advantage over Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate contest, with Democrats seeing the race as a possible breakthrough against entrenched Republican power in a state long shaped by wealthy interests and hard-right politics.
James Talarico, a former teacher and Presbyterian seminary student, is ahead of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in recent polls and has outpaced the Republican in fundraising during the final months of the campaign. From July through September, Talarico’s campaign reported raising $64 million, compared with Paxton’s $18 million in the same period, and his total fundraising since launching exceeds $146 million.
Outside groups supporting Paxton have poured more than $200 million into Republican efforts in Texas, much of it from billionaire Elon Musk, while President Donald Trump’s principal super PAC, MAGA Inc., has spent about $33.7 million on advertisements for the attorney general. The flood of outside money underscores how intensely nationalized and money-driven the race has become.
At a rally in Dallas, Talarico framed the contest as a fight between ordinary voters and powerful interests, saying, "> Dallas, you are my slingshot. The people of Texas are my slingshot."
Talarico’s campaign events in El Paso, Midland, Amarillo and Lubbubock attracted sizable crowds, with more than 4,000 attendees reported at the Lubbock rally on Oct. 27. He thanked supporters, stating, "> I appreciate all 4,000 of you that showed up here this evening."
Voters interviewed by Fox News Digital noted that President Trump’s simultaneous rally near Paxton’s event suggested Republican anxiety about the race, while some Republican supporters still expressed confidence that Paxton would keep the seat.
Supporters of Talarico pointed to Paxton’s legal controversies and impeachment by the Texas House as reasons for backing Talarico, with one Dallas voter saying, "> We’re here in support of honesty, decency and integrity."
The election is scheduled for Nov. 3, and a Democratic win would represent the first Senate seat flip in Texas in decades, while a loss would preserve the GOP’s long grip on the state.