Texas news, down to the facts.

Early voting is open through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3, 15 days away. Elections

Elections

Texas Senate race between Paxton and Talarico attracts $445 million in ad spending

The 2026 Texas Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico has drawn $445 million in TV, radio and digital ad spending as of October 9, with Republicans spending $326 million and Democrats $120 million. Since the May 27 primary, Republicans have spent $195 million compared to Democrats' $81 million.

Where
Statewide
When
Oct. 9, 2026
Sources
Reported by 9 outlets

Taxes and money

The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.

  • TV, radio and digital ad spending in Texas Senate race$445 million1 Who pays or receives it: Republican and Democratic groups
  • TV, radio and digital ad spending in Texas Senate race - Republican portion$326 million1 Who pays or receives it: Republican groups
  • TV, radio and digital ad spending in Texas Senate race - Democratic portion$120 million1 Who pays or receives it: Democratic groups
  • Republican ad spending since May 27 primary$195 million1 Who pays or receives it: Republican groups
  • Democratic ad spending since May 27 primary$81 million1 Who pays or receives it: Democratic groups
  • Spending by Texas PAC to aid Paxton$122 million1 Who pays or receives it: Texas PAC

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Ken PaxtonRepublican state Attorney General, candidate for U.S. Senate
  • James TalaricoDemocratic state Representative, candidate for U.S. Senate
  • Senate Leadership FundRepublican super PAC supporting Paxton
  • Texas PACSuper PAC funded by Senate Leadership Fund to support Paxton
  • John ThuneU.S. Senate Majority Leader (R-S.D.), tied to Senate Leadership Fund
  • Matt MackowiakRepublican strategist
  • Chris GustafsonCommunications director for Senate Leadership Fund
  • John CornynFormer Republican U.S. Senator, defeated by Paxton in primary

The facts

  • The Texas Senate race has attracted $445 million in ad spending as of Oct. 9.1
  • Recent polls show Talarico with leads between 2 and 6 percentage points over Paxton.1
  • Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the May 27 primary.1
  • GOP ad spending in Texas has been second only to Ohio among states, per AdImpact.1
  • Texas PAC was announced in September as a spin-off of Senate Leadership Fund.1
  • No Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Chris Gustafson, Senate Leadership Fund Texas PAC has dedicated donors with no impact on SLF's investments in other states.1
  • Matt Mackowiak, Republican strategist GOP spending in Texas costs as much as spending in all five swing states combined.1

Where the sources disagree

  • Whether Texas spending comes from same donor pool as other state races Gustafson said dedicated donors in 2026 [1]; Gustafson warned in August 2025 that Paxton's record takes resources away from Senate majority [1]

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

Sources

Outlets: 2 left-leaning Only left-leaning outlets reported this Who's covering Texas →

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.

  1. A Texas-sized money pit: Inside the real cost of Ken Paxton’s lackluster campaign MS NOW Left, October 9, 2026
  2. Inside Ken Paxton’s Private Testimony About His Money The New York Times Lean Left, October 9, 2026

Also reported by Bradenton Herald, Bellingham Herald, Miami Herald, USA Today, Wichita Eagle, Detroit Free Press, News Radio 1200 WOAI, NewsRadio 740 KTRH, The Daily Wire, Wonderwall, WFAA, News From The States, The Texas Tribune, KSAT, Click2Houston, inkl, The Texas Tribune, KERA News Breakthroughs, 88.9 KETR, KRGV, AOL.com.

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

Spot an error on this sheet?

All corrections and updates

Keep reading

Bexar and Brazoria counties hold county judge races on November 3

Two Texas county judge races are scheduled for the Nov. 3 election. In Bexar County, Republican Patrick Von Dohlen is challenging Democrat Ron Nirenberg. In Brazoria County, Republican Rob Giesecke, independent Lucinda Henry and Democrat Eugene Howard are running to replace retiring County Judge Matt Sebesta.

Patrick Von Dohlen, Republican candidate for Bexar County judge; Ron Nirenberg, Democrat candidate for Bexar County judge; Rob Giesecke, Republican candidate for Brazoria County judge and 3 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Texas counties prepare election security measures ahead of early voting

County clerks and election administrators across Texas are implementing security procedures before early voting begins October 19. Travis County plans 201 voting locations on Election Day. Multiple counties conducted security training for poll workers.

Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado, Travis County Clerk; Bexar County Elections Administrator Michele Carew, Bexar County Elections Administrator; Dallas County Elections Administrator Paul Adams, Dallas County Elections Administrator and 2 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Democratic and Republican Senate candidates report third-quarter campaign fundraising totals

Democratic and Republican candidates released third-quarter campaign fundraising reports for the 2026 midterm elections. Democrat James Talarico's Texas Senate campaign raised $60 million between July and September, while Republican Ken Paxton's campaign raised about $10 million in the same period. Elon Musk's super PAC has heavily backed Paxton's campaign.

$60 million for campaign funds raised, third quarter 2026

James Talarico, Democrat candidate for Texas Senate; Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for Texas Senate; Elon Musk, Tech billionaire and super PAC backer of Republican candidates

Reported by 5 outletsFound via Google News

Elon Musk donates $158 million to support Ken Paxton Senate campaign

Elon Musk donated $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund in September 2026, which transferred the money to Texas PAC to finance advertising supporting Republican Ken Paxton in his Senate race against Democrat James Talarico.

$158 million for donation to Senate Leadership Fund

Elon Musk, Donor; Ken Paxton, Republican Senate candidate; James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate and 3 more

Reported by 5 outletsFound via Google News

Talarico's former classmate accuses him of prioritizing politics over truth

Mike Garcia, a former college classmate of Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, appeared on Fox News to accuse Talarico of putting political ambitions ahead of truthfulness.

James Talarico, Democratic Texas Senate candidate; Mike Garcia, former college classmate making accusation; Will Cain, Fox News host

Reported by 2 outletsOnly right-leaning outlets reported thisFound via Google News

Senate candidate Talarico schedules El Paso campaign rally October 26

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico announced a campaign rally in El Paso on October 26 from 6 to 8 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. The event is part of his "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts" statewide tour ahead of the November 3 election.

James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate candidate, Texas Attorney General

Reported by 4 outletsFound via Google News

"No Kings" organizers hold vote early event in Dallas Saturday

Organizers of the "No Kings" movement held a gathering in Dallas to encourage early voting. The event included speakers, music, community activities, voting information, and election volunteer opportunities.

Indivisible Dallas, organizer of Dallas gathering; Black Voters Matter Texas, participating organization

Reported by 4 outletsFound via Google News

All of today's news