Ken Paxton faces fundraising shortfall before Texas Senate runoff

Attorney General Ken Paxton is slightly ahead of incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a recent Texas poll, but he lags far behind both Cornyn and Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico in fundraising. Longtime donors, including Jerry Jones and Buc‑ee’s founder, are holding back contributions, preferring to reserve cash for the general election rather than commit to a primary candidate whose legal troubles and personal controversies have raised concerns.

Cornyn has outspent Paxton by a large margin, with total campaign and supporting PAC receipts exceeding $50 million. Talarico, a Democrat, is also raising significant funds, reportedly outpacing both Republicans. The fundraising gap could prove decisive in the close runoff, highlighting the power of money in Texas’s tightly contested Senate race.