Democrat Talarico says he raised record $64 million over summer in Texas Senate race
Democrats have not won statewide in Texas since 1994 or a U.S. Senate race there since 1988, but James Talarico is making the state competitive.
TL;DR
- Democrat James Talarico raised $64 million in the third quarter, setting a claimed Senate record for the period.
- Talarico's election cycle total has surpassed $134 million.
- Republican opponent Ken Paxton and affiliated committees raised $18 million in the same quarter.
- GOP outside groups have spent over $175 million supporting Paxton or attacking Talarico since September 1.
- Overall political advertising in the race has exceeded $500 million.
- Elon Musk has contributed $10 million to a pro-Paxton super PAC.
- Talarico leads Paxton 48.5% to 45.2% in FiftyPlusOne's polling average.
- Talarico's fundraising eclipses previous records for Texas Democrats, including Beto O'Rourke's 2018 campaign.
- Federal law allows candidates lower broadcast rates than super PACs, making campaign dollars go further.
- No Democrat has won statewide in Texas since 1994, and no Democrat has won a U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1988.