Republican Leaders Invest Significantly in Texas Senate Race

Top Senate Republicans are channeling substantial funds to Texas to secure a Senate seat ahead of the midterm elections. The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC allied with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, plans to establish the Texas PAC, mobilizing significant campaign resources to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s candidacy.

Paxton is in a closely contested race against Texas State Representative James Talarico. Republican figures argue that Talarico’s progressive stance is not aligned with Texas’s conservative leanings.

The GOP is fully committed to keeping James Talarico out of the U.S. Senate. The Senate Leadership Fund actively works to maintain Texas’s Republican alignment, noted Thune to Fox News Digital.

During the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, Thune attended a fundraising event for Paxton to strengthen his campaign efforts. The newly formed PAC will launch an extensive ad campaign in Texas, planning to maintain visibility through media until Election Day. Initial advertisements will focus on Paxton’s positive image and emphasize the differences between him and Talarico.

The convention also aimed to motivate President Donald Trump’s supporters to vote in tight races nationwide, with a particular focus on the Texas Senate contest. This strategic financial support shift from Senate Republicans initially backed Senator John Cornyn but later consolidated around Paxton following Trump’s endorsement. Republicans are now presenting a unified front to aid Paxton financially.

Recent opinion polls show Talarico’s slight edge in the Senate race. The latest Fox News survey reflects a narrow 51%-48% lead for Talarico over Paxton. This race is among several pivotal contests that will influence the GOP’s Senate majority control.

The Texas PAC’s initiation follows shortly after MAGA Inc., affiliated with former President Trump, committed $10 million to support Paxton in the midterms. This backing is crucial as Talarico’s campaign holds a substantial financial advantage. Talarico has raised over $72 million for his Senate bid, compared to Paxton’s approximately $17 million, as indicated by federal records.

Paxton conveyed to Fox News’ Bret Baier the disadvantage arising from a drawn-out primary, providing Talarico additional time for fundraising. Talarico launched ad campaigns portraying himself as a moderate Democrat, contrasting with Paxton’s constitutional Republican stance. Paxton emphasized the need to highlight these distinct differences as critical to his campaign’s success.

Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital focusing on U.S. Senate coverage.