Elon Musk replied affirmatively to a post equating children's lives with voting, using an illustration placing the concepts beside the candidates' names. The post came after Paxton announced Texas Children's Hospital opened a detransition clinic following a settlement. Polls show the race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico remains close.
Where
Statewide
When
October 28, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets
Taxes and money
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
Settlement payment to resolve billing claims for medical interventions$10 million1Who pays or receives it: Texas Children's Hospital
Coming up
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. U.S. Senate election between Ken Paxton and James Talarico1
Who's involved
Elon MuskX user who replied to post about children's lives and voting
Ken PaxtonRepublican candidate for U.S. Senate, Texas Attorney General
James TalaricoDemocratic candidate for U.S. Senate, state representative
Texas Children's HospitalHospital that opened detransition clinic
The facts
Fox News survey of 1,398 likely voters conducted October 15-19 found both nominees at 49%.1
RealClearPolling's October 8-21 average gave Talarico a 1.8-point lead.1
Texas Children's Hospital agreed to pay $10 million to resolve billing claims.1
The hospital opened a detransition clinic offering care through age 21.1
The clinic must be funded by the hospital for five years with services at no charge to eligible patients.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Elon Musk Children's lives depend on Texas Senate vote (affirmed by replying 'They do' to post).1
Ken Paxton Texas Children's Hospital billed Medicaid for prohibited or unallowable interventions intended to change patients' sex characteristics.1
James Talarico He would absolutely support a national ban on sex-altering surgery for minors.1
James Talarico He opposed athletes who identify as transgender competing in girls' sports when participation endangered safety or fairness.1
Where the sources disagree
Talarico's current position on medical treatments for transgender youth In September 2026 Fox News interview, said he would support national ban on sex-altering surgery for minors [1]; in September campaign stop recording, told woman he would fight for trans kids and said his position hasn't changed [1]; opposed 2023 SB 14 amendments that would have provided exceptions for certain minors [1].
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Musk Warns Children’s Lives Depend On Texas Senate Vote As Paxton–Talarico Race Tightens
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton campaigned in Odessa on Oct. 28, attacking Democratic opponent State Rep. James Talarico and touting an affordability plan featuring expanded tax deductions.
$Paxton promises legislation expanding tax deductions, described as money voters "get to keep"; no tax impact quantified in sources.
Ken Paxton, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Texas Attorney General; James Talarico, Democratic opponent, State Rep. (D-Austin); Elon Musk, Super PAC donor supporting Paxton
KSAT will broadcast live election night coverage on Nov. 3 covering U.S. Senate, Texas congressional districts, gubernatorial race, and Bexar County judge and district attorney races.
Three civil rights organizations sued Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden and Texas Department of Safety Director Freeman F. Martin in federal court, alleging violations of the National Voter Registration Act following delays in processing more than 500,000 voter registration applications.
NAACP, plaintiff; NAACP Texas chapter, plaintiff; League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Texas chapter, plaintiff and 4 more
Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico held separate rallies in Lubbock on Tuesday. Trump appeared at Paxton's rally at the Civic Center. Talarico supporters gathered about four miles away at the Fiesta Center.
Ken Paxton, Republican candidate; James Talarico, Democratic candidate; Donald Trump, appeared at Paxton rally
Tarrant County began early voting on Wednesday, Oct. 28 for elections scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can choose from more than 40 early voting sites open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday. The ballot includes races for U.S. Senate, Texas Governor, Texas Attorney General, and other state and local offices.
Tarrant County Elections Department, Administering early voting; Dallas Morning News, Providing wait-time tracker and voter guide
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows convened a June summit for Republican House nominees and has spent his first election cycle as speaker deploying millions of dollars to vulnerable GOP members, headlining fundraisers, and campaigning in their districts ahead of the November midterms.
Dustin Burrows, Texas House Speaker; Matt Shaheen, State Rep., R-Plano; Kim Carmichael, Burrows spokesperson
In the final weeks before the Nov. 3 election, over $1 million has been spent supporting first-term Republican state Rep. Marc LaHood in Texas House District 121, while a nearby U.S. House race in Texas' 23rd Congressional District has also drawn last-minute spending from Republicans and Democrats.
$$1.1 million for campaign funds raised
Marc LaHood, first-term Republican state representative, Texas House District 121; Zack Dunn, Democratic challenger to LaHood; Brandon Herrera, Republican candidate, Texas' 23rd Congressional District and 6 more
Chris Gober, former director and top lawyer for Elon Musk's America PAC, is running as a Republican for Congress in Texas' 10th District, which includes areas where Musk's companies have business interests. His Democratic opponent Caitlin Rourk has run ads highlighting his Musk ties.
$$10,000 for SpaceX PAC donation to Gober campaign
Chris Gober, Republican candidate for Congress in Texas 10th District; former director and top lawyer for Musk's America PAC; Caitlin Rourk, Democratic candidate for Congress in Texas 10th District; Elon Musk, Billionaire whose companies have business interests in the district and whose PAC employed Gober