Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico announced a $64 million fundraising total for the third quarter. According to his campaign, this figure represents the highest amount ever raised by a U.S. Senate candidate in a single three-month period.
The fundraising total brings Talarico’s cumulative campaign funds to $134 million since he entered the race last year. His Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, reported earlier this month that his campaign raised $18 million during the same three-month timeframe. Talarico's quarterly total surpassed the previous record of $57 million set by Jamie Harrison in 2020.
Talarico discussed his campaign’s economic focus during a CNN town hall on Wednesday, attributing affordability issues in the state to what he termed a "corruption crisis." He also addressed his recent absence from the campaign trail, stating he had been ill with the flu and denying social media rumors regarding his health and status in the race. Paxton was invited to the town hall but did not respond, according to CNN.
Republicans have allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to support Paxton’s candidacy. Former President Donald Trump, a longtime ally who supported Paxton in his primary challenge against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, has visited Texas three times in the past month to campaign. Meanwhile, Paxton announced on Wednesday that he will begin a two-week bus tour starting near Fort Worth and concluding at the Alamo on the eve of the election.
The financial disparity between the candidates is notable, as Talarico’s $64 million quarterly haul is more than three times the $18 million reported by Paxton for the same period. This level of funding allows a Democratic candidate to maintain a statewide presence in Texas, a state where a Democrat hasn't won a Senate seat since 1988. The influx of national resources and high-profile endorsements, including three visits from Donald Trump for the Paxton campaign, indicates that both parties view the race as a priority for determining the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
What happens next depends on voter turnout and the impact of the final campaign pushes. Ken Paxton’s bus tour is scheduled to run for two weeks, concluding the night before Election Day. Voters will make their final decision on or before the first Tuesday in November, as the candidates contest a seat Republicans have held for decades.