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Texas 2026 Senate race: GOP spending surge and Talarico's Sc

Updated 28 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-14 20:42 UTC → 2026-09-18 03:19 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Texas 2026 U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton has intensified as the midterm election approaches. While Talarico maintains a slight lead in recent AARP polling at 48 percent to 44 percent, Paxton holds a significant advantage of 53 percent to 40 percent among voters aged 50 and older. Political analysts now characterize the contest as a toss-up, with voter concerns focused on the cost of living, Social Security, and Medicare. Republican outside groups ~~launch~~ have launched a massive advertising ~~surge. Following an AARP poll showing Talarico with a four-point lead (48 percent~~ surge to ~~44 percent), Texas PAC,~~ support Paxton. A super PAC linked to ~~the~~ Senate ~~Leadership Fund, reserved~~ Majority Leader John Thune has purchased approximately ~~$51~~ $32 million ~~for advertising across major Texas media markets. This follows~~ in television advertisements, supplementing previous ~~financial~~ commitments ~~including $13.8 million~~ from ~~the Senate Leadership Fund, $10 million from the Trump-associated~~ MAGA Inc., ~~and over $2.6 million from Elon Musk’s America PAC. While Donald Trump has endorsed Paxton, he has also frequently mocked the Republican’s appearance and mannerisms, a tactic Talarico~~ which has ~~countered by turning the Trump-coined nickname ‘Talafreako’ into campaign merchandise. Talarico is currently facing scrutiny regarding his personal financial disclosures. Recent filings show~~ spent $10 million. This influx of capital follows a ~~significant drawdown~~ surge in ~~a joint checking account held with his mother,~~ Republican fundraising emails, which ~~dropped from~~ observers interpret as a range of $15,001–$50,000 to between $1,000 and $15,000. Additionally, questions have been raised regarding Nine Banded LLC, an inactive company he registered shortly after launching his campaign. In terms sign of campaign ~~strategy, Talarico’s campaign~~ urgency. In response to the Republican spending, Talarico has seen increased visibility through alternative media; a ~~recent absence~~ YouTube interview garnered 5 million views within 24 hours after being pulled from a late-night television ~~advertising despite having raised $68 million in the first half of the year. Talarico~~ network. Talarico’s campaign has ~~attributed this lack~~ also accused Paxton of ~~media presence to his refusal to accept money from billionaires~~ dodging debate invitations and ~~corporate PACs, even~~ avoiding public accountability. This election represents potentially uncharted territory for Texas, as ~~Republican-aligned groups dominate~~ Democrats seek to win statewide office for the ~~Texas advertising market.~~ first time since 1994. While Republicans have long dominated the state, shifting public sentiment regarding the economy and local infrastructure has created a highly competitive environment.

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