James Talarico records $600,000 haul hours after Ken Paxton’s primary win
Texas State Rep. James Talarico’s Democratic Senate bid picked up major momentum promptly after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Republican primary, setting up a highly watched contest in November.
In the first two hours after Paxton’s win, Talarico raised $600,000-his strongest fundraising stretch to that point-following an already record-setting haul of $27 million in the first three months of 2026.The race is considered pivotal for control of the U.S. Senate, wiht recent polling showing the two candidates in a dead heat.
Talarico has tried to portray himself as a bipartisan, people-focused candidate, while Republicans are working to brand him as a progressive, left-leaning Democrat. Talarico’s positions have included an anti-wealth “billionaire class” stance and sharp foreign-policy criticism, including critiques of Israel and skepticism toward certain U.S. interventions.
Texas state Rep. James Talarico‘s Democratic Senate campaign raked in record donations on Tuesday, when his rival secured the Republican nomination, setting the pair up to face off in November.
Tuesday evening, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton trounced Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), securing a resounding victory in the Republican primary that ended the incumbent’s decadeslong streak in the Senate.
Recommended Stories
In the first two hours following Paxton’s win, Talarico hauled in $600,000, the strongest two hours of his entire campaign, according to Politico. The development signals Paxton faces a tough path to victory in the general election, and comes after Talarico’s campaign raised a historically massive figure in the first quarter of 2026.
Talarico raised $27 million during the first three months of 2026, one of the highest figures on record for a Senate candidate.
The Senate race between Talarico and Paxton is one of the most closely watched in the country, as it will help determine whether Democrats or Republicans hold a majority in the upper chamber. The latest polling puts the two men in a dead heat to win the general election, reinforcing the fiercely competitive dynamics at play in Texas.
Talarico has sought to paint himself as a bipartisan policymaker, as he must win the support of some Republicans to win the race in the deep red state. The GOP has sought to brand the Democrat as someone who would pursue controversial progressive policies. Among other things, Talarico is known for his anti-wealth stance with his opposition to the “billionaire class.” On the foreign policy side, he has sharply critiqued Israel and has embraced a populist, isolationist-leaning approach, targeting the Trump administration over interventions in Iran and Venezuela.
SENATE GOP FUMES AFTER TRUMP SNUBS CORNYN WITH KEN PAXTON ENDORSEMENT
“I’ve called out the extremes in both parties,” Talarico wrote in a post to X on Monday. “I’m not interested in going to Washington DC to serve one political party. I’m going to Washington DC to serve the people of Texas.”
Republicans have tried to frame Talarico as a left-wing Democrat, tying him to past comments he’s made about gender and religion. Paxton is likely to continue this messaging through the general election.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Talarico’s campaign for comment.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
