Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico made his first public appearance in nine days at Austin City Limits music festival on October 9 after being sidelined by the flu. His absence from Sept. 30 through early October drew attacks from Republican opponent Ken Paxton and President Donald Trump, who questioned his whereabouts and demanded "proof of life."
James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee; Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate nominee; Donald Trump, President and 3 more
Audio recording obtained by CNN captured Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican Senate candidate, saying at a September 24 fundraiser in Washington that Senator John Cornyn was not helping his campaign and wanted him to lose. Paxton recounted a Dallas restaurant encounter where Cornyn allegedly said Republicans needed to teach others a lesson through consequences. Cornyn's representative denied the restaurant conversation occurred.
$well over $100 million for republican spending in Texas general election
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate; John Cornyn, Outgoing U.S. Senator from Texas; Rob Jesmer, Representative for Senator Cornyn and 2 more
El Paso County voters will choose in November between incumbent Democrat County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, seeking a third term, and Republican challenger Minerva Torres Shelton, a retired FBI agent and former police officer. The race is one of three Commissioners Court contests on the ballot.
$County judge must balance increasing costs for services with impact to taxpayers, but no specific tax effect stated in sources.
Ricardo Samaniego, Democrat incumbent county judge seeking third term; Minerva Torres Shelton, Republican candidate for county judge, retired FBI agent and former police officer
The Denton County Republican Party placed six billboards across the county with the message "PROTECT OUR FUTURE VOTE REPUBLICAN" to boost Republican turnout ahead of the November 3 election. The party encouraged residents to photograph the signs and share pictures.
Denton County Republican Party, Organization placing billboards; Aaron Rocha, Creative director for Denton County Republican Party; Melinda Preston, Chairman of Denton County Republican Party and 1 more
A 2020 podcast interview clip emerged in which James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, stated he opposed cutting healthcare benefits to balance the state budget during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the appearance, Talarico said he did not care what taxes would need to be raised to avoid healthcare cuts.
$$4.6 billion for budget shortfall projected
James Talarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas; Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller; Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas and 1 more
Multiple polls released in early October 2026 show Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race from Texas. The polls vary by sample size, methodology, and geographic focus.
James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas; Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas, Texas Attorney General; Ruth Igielnik, Pollster and writer for The New York Times and 2 more
President Donald Trump campaigned for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton at a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday night. Trump attacked Democrat James Talarico over his absence from the campaign trail due to illness and called for Talarico to debate. Paxton has not publicly accepted debate invitations, while Talarico has agreed to four debates. The rally was interrupted by protesters multiple times.
Donald Trump, President, campaigning for Paxton; Ken Paxton, Republican Senate nominee; James Talarico, Democrat Senate candidate
Campaign finance reports through Sept. 24 showed Abbott raised $20 million while Hinojosa raised $13 million. Abbott spent $70 million since July 1 compared to Hinojosa's $12 million, leaving Abbott with $17 million in the bank versus Hinojosa's $4 million. A YouGov poll conducted Sept. 28-Oct. 5 showed Hinojosa narrowly ahead 48-47 percent.
$$20 million for campaign donations (July 1-Sept. 24)
Greg Abbott, Republican governor candidate; Gina Hinojosa, Democratic state representative and governor candidate; Kim Snyder, Abbott's campaign manager and 6 more
The Texas Hemp Business Council announced publication of a voter guide for the 2026 midterm elections detailing Texas House and Senate candidates' positions on hemp policy. The guide features candidate responses to a 20-question survey covering hemp regulation, retail standards, agriculture and business, consumer safeguards, and legislative priorities.
Texas Hemp Business Council, Organization that published the voter guide; Nicole D'Ortona, Director of operations at the Texas Hemp Business Council
Most Republican nominees for Texas statewide office have not accepted debate invitations from Democratic opponents with two weeks left before early voting. Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, has not accepted any debate invitations despite his July statement that he would debate. James Talarico, his Democratic opponent, has accepted at least four debate invitations. Abbott's campaign has not publicly agreed to debate Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, though he debated his opponents in each of his three previous races.
Ken Paxton, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate; Attorney General; James Talarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate; Greg Abbott, Governor; Republican gubernatorial nominee and 8 more
NewsNation analyst Chris Stirewalt said the Texas U.S. Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico is more about Paxton than a Democratic shift in the state. Stirewalt brought his show to the State Fair of Texas with two weeks until early voting began.
Chris Stirewalt, NewsNation analyst; host of "The Hill Sunday"; Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate candidate; James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and 1 more
President Trump held a rally at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio on Wednesday evening to support Ken Paxton's campaign for U.S. Senate. The event came amid a closely contested Texas Senate race between Paxton and challenger Talarico.
Donald Trump, President, rally speaker; Ken Paxton, U.S. Senate candidate; Talarico, U.S. Senate candidate and 1 more
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, told donors and lobbyists at a closed-door fundraising event that the Iran war and high gasoline and diesel prices are the main factors hurting his campaign. An audio recording of his remarks was published by Axios on October 7, 2026.
$$5.72 for average diesel price per gallon in Texas
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate; James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate
Fox News Power Rankings identified Texas's 35th Congressional District as one of 10 Democrat-held House seats Republicans could flip in the midterm elections. The district features a race between Republican Carlos De La Cruz and Democrat Johnny Garcia.
Carlos De La Cruz, Republican candidate, Texas 35th Congressional District; Johnny Garcia, Democrat candidate, Texas 35th Congressional District; Jennifer Kelly, Host and Republican strategist, commenting on the race
Former President Barack Obama appeared in a campaign ad and campaigned in Texas with Senate candidate James Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa earlier in 2026. Obama is increasing his involvement in midterm elections with additional campaign stops and advertisements planned for the closing weeks.
Barack Obama, Former President, campaigning for Democratic candidates; James Talarico, Texas Senate candidate; Gina Hinojosa, Texas gubernatorial candidate
Gina Hinojosa, a Texas state representative and gubernatorial candidate, sent cease-and-desist letters to television stations demanding they pull a Texans for Greg Abbott advertisement about her property tax votes. The Abbott campaign responded with a legal letter listing the votes.
$Hinojosa proposes ending residential property taxes through cutting corporate subsidies and government contracts; Abbott proposes a constitutional amendment eliminating school taxes for homeowners using state surplus funding.
Gina Hinojosa, State representative from Austin and gubernatorial candidate; Greg Abbott, Governor and gubernatorial candidate; Texans for Greg Abbott, Campaign organization and 2 more
Sen. Ted Cruz is playing a behind-the-scenes role in Ken Paxton's Texas Senate campaign, acting as an informal adviser, bundler, and campaigner. Cruz helped secure a Texas Hispanic Business Council town hall for Paxton and has raised funds for his campaign, including $3 million in one day during a May fly-around.
$$3 million for campaign donations raised by Cruz during one-day fly-around in May
Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator; informal adviser, bundler, and campaigner for Paxton's campaign; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General; Republican Senate candidate; James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate and 5 more
Dallas Cowboys legend Randy White and former NFL defensive lineman Bryce Huff endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race. White cited their shared work on child safety and opioid awareness; Huff emphasized support for small business and limited government.
Randy White, Dallas Cowboys legend, Pro Football Hall of Famer, endorser of Paxton; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, U.S. Senate candidate; Bryce Huff, Super Bowl champion, former NFL defensive lineman, endorser of Paxton and 1 more
A conservative PAC sent political text messages to Texas voters asking "Are you white?" and directing them to a website attacking Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. The texts claimed Talarico called white men "America's top terror threat," referencing a comment he made after a mass shooting about radicalized white men being the greatest domestic terror threat.
James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; American Political Action Committee (AMERIPAC), Conservative PAC that paid for the text messages; Rep. Marc Veasey, Talarico ally, D-Fort Worth and 2 more
The Republican Party has focused on South Texas congressional and state legislative races ahead of midterm elections, as the region's voting patterns shift. GOP leaders including House Speaker Mike Johnson are campaigning in the area to support Republican candidates.
Republican Party, Political party running candidates in South Texas; Mike Johnson, House Speaker campaigning for GOP candidates; James Talarico, Candidate with primary victory support from South Texas voters and 1 more