Top Senate Republicans are channeling significant funds into Texas to secure a Republican hold on the U.S. Senate seat as the midterm elections draw near. The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a super PAC affiliated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, is establishing the Texas PAC to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign.
Paxton is in a tight contest with Texas State Rep. James Talarico, who some Republicans view as too progressive for Texas. Thune expressed concerns about Talarico, stating, “As the Democratic Party leans further left, extreme candidates like James Talarico are becoming common. Republicans are committed to preventing him from joining the U.S. Senate, which is why I’m proud of the Senate Leadership Fund’s efforts to keep Texas red.”
During the final day of the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, Thune attended a fundraiser for Paxton aimed at bolstering his campaign. On Friday, the new PAC will initiate an eight-figure ad campaign targeting Texas voters. These ads will portray Paxton positively and contrast the two candidates.
Additionally, Trump’s endorsement of Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn led to a significant shift in support, uniting Republicans in backing Paxton financially against Talarico. Recent opinion polls suggest Talarico holds a narrow lead over Paxton, with a Fox News poll showing Talarico with a slim 51%-48% margin.
The Texas Senate race is critical among the battles that will determine the GOP’s Senate majority in the midterm elections. Following MAGA, Inc.’s initial ad spending, both the Texas PAC and MAGA Inc. are expected to boost Paxton’s campaign. Despite Talarico’s fundraising advantage, with over $72 million compared to Paxton’s $17 million, efforts are underway to enhance Paxton’s visibility in the campaign’s final stretch.
Paxton attributed his fundraising challenges to a prolonged primary battle, allowing Talarico to spend without constraint for an additional three months. Paxton stated, “Talarico used the extra time to reinvent his image from a radical socialist to a moderate Democrat. We aim to emphasize the differences between a socialist and a constitutional Republican.”
As the campaign continues, Paxton’s supporters are working diligently to change the current dynamics of the race.