Finally, Texas Turns Blue as Talarico Wins Senate Seat After Record Spending
A historic Texas Senate result
James Talarico, a Democratic state representative, won a Texas Senate seat on Tuesday, becoming the first Democrat to do so since 1988. Texas will again have a Democratic senator for the first time since Bob Krueger left office in June 1993.
Talarico faced Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a close contest in a state described as deeply Republican. The economy and corruption were among the central concerns for voters.
Record spending and fundraising
The contest attracted more than $500 million in advertising, setting a record for a U.S. election outside a presidential race. Republican-aligned groups spent over $360 million supporting Paxton, while Democrats spent more than $133 million backing Talarico through late October.
Elon Musk contributed about $212 million to Paxton’s support, including a $168 million gift to the Senate Leadership Fund. The group, the leading campaign organization for Senate Republicans, directed nearly all that money to advertisements for Paxton. Talarico raised $64 million in the third quarter, the largest such total ever reported by a Senate candidate.
Candidates faced sharp criticism
Talarico campaigned on allegations of corruption involving Paxton, whose estimated net worth rose from $174,000 in 2003 to $13 million, according to Forbes. Paxton faced claims that he used his office to aid Austin developer and donor Nate Paul, including through legal actions related to Paul’s properties.
Texas lawmakers impeached Paxton in 2023 over bribery and abuse-of-power charges, but the state Senate acquitted him. During the Republican primary, Sen. John Cornyn and allies called Paxton “Crooked Ken” and described him as “corrupt to the core” in an advertisement.
Policy disputes and economic worries
Talarico previously said God was “non-binary,” then later described his remark as deliberately provocative. He opposed a bill restricting men’s participation in women’s sports, while saying he did not support trans-identifying men competing with women because of concerns about safety and fairness.
He also expressed support for gun licensing, handgun safety requirements and a ban on modern semiautomatic firearms, and backed legislation increasing the purchase age for some such weapons to 21. Paxton blamed the Iran war and fuel costs for his campaign’s difficulties, according to leaked audio; AAA listed Texas regular gasoline at $4.16 per gallon and diesel at $5.73 on Monday.
Key points
- James Talarico’s victory gave Democrats their first Texas Senate win since 1988.
- The race drew more than $500 million in advertising, a record outside presidential elections.
- Talarico raised $64 million in the third quarter, a Senate-candidate record.
- Corruption allegations against Paxton and economic concerns were prominent campaign issues.