Texas Senate Race Heats Up with James Talarico’s New Campaign Ads

James Talarico’s New Campaign Ads

Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico is launching a new offensive with two television ads. In one, he criticizes former President Joe Biden for his border policies; in the other, he targets Republican Ken Paxton for his connections to the data center industry. These ads come shortly after Talarico returned to the campaign trail following a flu that kept him sidelined for over a week. His absence was noted by Paxton and President Donald Trump.

Talarico needs to build a coalition to win statewide in Texas for the first time since 1994. This includes Hispanic voters along the border, who leaned Republican during Biden’s presidency, and rural and suburban voters dissatisfied with data centers and rising utility bills.

I’ll always put Texas before any political party. I called out Joe Biden for failing us on the border. I worked with Republicans to pass the largest property tax cut in Texas history.

In the border advertisement, Talarico stands before a Texas flag, emphasizing his commitment to the state over any political party. His criticism of Biden’s border failure started in July, with a border plan unveiled in Terrell County. He had earlier expressed this sentiment in a 2022 speech. Republican strategist Mike Madrid noted Talarico’s centrist approach, aimed at attracting both Democrat and Republican support.

The second ad targets Paxton over his ties to the data center industry. Talarico accuses Paxton of granting tax breaks in exchange for campaign contributions from data center companies. Paxton received approximately $448,000 from executives and committees linked to data centers through June, according to NOTUS analysis.

Polls: Talarico vs. Paxton

Talarico has held a slim lead in most polls since Paxton’s nomination. The RealClearPolitics average shows Talarico at 48.1 percent and Paxton at 45.3 percent. The Trafalgar Group survey conducted during Talarico’s absence put him ahead by 3 percentage points. Other polls in early October showed him leading by margins of up to 6 points.

There is no evidence Texas voters are warming to the national Democratic message. The data shows that Texas voters are responding to Talarico as a candidate and support for the opposition is softening.

While Paxton performed better on U.S.-Mexico border issues, Talarico has made significant inroads with Hispanic voters, breaking for him by 19 points in an Emerson College poll.

Developments in the Texas Race

Talarico’s flu diagnosis kept him off the trail until he reappeared at the Austin City Limits music festival. Paxton’s campaign capitalized on his absence, demanding proof of Talarico’s well-being. Despite the negative speculation, Talarico reassured voters on social media.

Talarico’s fundraising efforts have surpassed Paxton’s, amassing $57 million in the first two quarters compared to Paxton’s $18 million in the third quarter. Outside spending has heavily favored Paxton, with Republican super PACs directing over $150 million compared to $4 million supporting Talarico. Significant support has come from notable figures like Elon Musk.

Data Centers and Voter Opinions

Talarico’s campaign has criticized data centers, proposing a plan to repeal their sales tax exemption and enforce stricter infrastructure and environmental regulations. Although a statewide moratorium is not in place, Talarico aims to redirect funds from state tax breaks to address housing and healthcare costs.

Polling indicates substantial opposition to data centers, especially in rural and suburban areas. Paxton has linked his policies to the state’s competitive edge in AI development, while Talarico has questioned these priorities.

Border Security Stances

Talarico has taken a firm stance on border security, recognizing the Democratic party’s oversight on the issue. He actively campaigned to regain support from border communities that shifted away during Biden’s presidency.

Paxton’s record as attorney general includes numerous lawsuits against the Biden administration related to border policy. While Paxton criticizes Talarico’s approach, the latter has gained ground among Hispanic voters.

Future Events

Talarico will participate in a CNN town hall on October 14. Early voting is scheduled from October 19 to 30, with Election Day on November 3. Paxton has not accepted any debate invitations from Talarico.

Democrats remain cautious, despite Talarico’s current lead. Narrow advantages could evaporate, as suggested by past election trends. Both parties are expected to continue vigorous campaigning.