Paxton v Talarico: tens of millions of dollars pour into closely watched Texas Senate race
Elon Musk has spent $158m in a month to back Republicans in midterm races – with his efforts mostly focused on Texas Tens of millions of dollars are pouring into Texas as Democrats stage an audacious bid to win a US Senate seat in the Republican stronghold. Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is among those wading into the closely watched race as November’s midterm elections approach.
Key points
- Elon Musk gave $158m in September to the Senate Leadership Fund backing Republican Senate candidates.
- Musk also donated $10m to Lone Star Liberty Pac, which supports Texas Republican Ken Paxton.
- Democrat James Talarico raised $64m in the third quarter, a record for a Senate candidate.
Tens of millions of dollars are flowing into Texas as Democrats try to win a US Senate seat in a Republican stronghold. Elon Musk, the world's richest person, is among those spending heavily in the closely watched race ahead of November's midterm elections.
In September alone, Musk gave $158m to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super political action committee backing Republican Senate candidates, Axios reported. The donation was more than half of the committee's third-quarter fundraising. Musk also gave $10m to Lone Star Liberty Pac, which is dedicated to supporting Republican candidate Ken Paxton, after Senate Leadership Fund president Alex Latcham requested the funding. A source familiar with the matter confirmed the Axios report to the Guardian.
Talarico's record fundraising
Paxton's Democratic opponent, James Talarico, raised $64m in the third quarter, the largest such total by a Senate candidate in history, Politico reported. Talarico, a young progressive known for faith-based messaging, beat an established Democrat for the Senate nomination earlier this year.
An unnamed Democratic strategist in Texas told Politico that Talarico is "fighting this battle basically alone" while Musk and the GOP fundraising apparatus outspend him 2:1, calling it still an uphill battle.
These robust investments have allowed the GOP apparatus to get its message out so Republicans can have a fighting chance to defy history.
— Andrew Romeo
Polls and spending totals
Polls show the two candidates essentially tied, with some showing Talarico narrowly ahead. The race is among the most competitive in the country and was expected to cost millions because Texas is expensive to campaign in. The Senate Leadership Fund had warned that backing Paxton would cost $150m to $200m.
Musk has donated about $366m to federal committees in the 2025-2026 cycle, the New York Times reported, up from roughly $290m in 2024. That rise contrasts with his May 2025 statement that he would do "a lot less" political spending. Andrew Romeo of America Pac told the Times the investments let the GOP "get its message out" and warned of risks if Democrats win.
