Texas Senate Race: Talarico Casts Himself as David as GOP-Aligned Money Pours In

Democrat James Talarico likened his U.S. Senate bid in Texas to the biblical David facing Goliath at a packed rally Thursday, as federal filings showed more than $158 million in outside spending by Republican leadership and billionaire Elon Musk aimed at the race, according to ABC News, citing the Associated Press.

Talarico, a state representative and seminarian, is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide in Texas in over 30 years. His opponent is Republican Ken Paxton, and the winner will help decide which party controls the Senate during the last two years of President Donald Trump's term.

The key numbers behind the Texas Senate money fight

• More than $158 million: The AP describes this as outside spending against Talarico by Republican leadership and Musk. Talarico did not mention Musk or the spending at the rally.
• $158 million from Musk: Federal campaign filings made public Thursday showed Musk gave this amount to the Senate Leadership Fund, according to the report.
• $158 million to Texas PAC: The Senate Leadership Fund then gave that amount to Texas PAC, which the AP identifies as the largest contributor to Paxton's campaign.
• $10 million: Musk also gave this sum to Lone Star Liberty PAC, a group that supports Paxton.
• Over 30 years: The length of time since a Democrat last won statewide in Texas, the benchmark Talarico is trying to break.
• Nine days: The period earlier this month when Talarico was out of public view with the flu.

What Talarico said at the San Marcos rally

Speaking at night in San Marcos, south of Austin, to a crowd made up largely of younger voters, Talarico said David lacked Goliath's strength but had a slingshot. He told supporters, “You are my slingshot,” and said they were facing their own Goliaths.

The framing matches his earlier rhetoric, the AP reported. He tends to describe politics as the ultrawealthy against everyone else rather than left against right. He argued that rising costs result from billionaires and corrupt politicians rigging the system.

How the race has changed

The AP said Talarico was first viewed as the latest in a series of Democratic candidates who raised hopes of flipping Texas, only to fall short on Election Day. He is now seen as a real contender.

The report credits part of his success to voter wariness toward Paxton, who has faced corruption questions. Paxton was impeached by his own party in the Texas legislature and later acquitted. Talarico's campaign has set fundraising records and outpaced Paxton's own fundraising, the AP said, while outside groups supporting Paxton have filled Texas airwaves with ads. Trump has made several trips to the state to rally for Paxton.

Talarico has tried to appear as nonpartisan as possible, according to the report. He has distanced himself from former President Joe Biden's administration and from his own party. Sen. Bernie Sanders is due in Texas this month but will not share a stage with him.

Why it matters for voters

The AP reported that Talarico is centering his pitch on the rising costs voters say worry them most. Kaitlyn Johnson, a 29-year-old bartender at the rally, said his message put words to a feeling she had held for a while. She said she earns decent money but does not expect to afford a home anytime soon.

Control of the Senate is also at stake. The AP said a Talarico win would likely mean a Senate that investigates and opposes Trump in his final two years, while a Paxton win would make those years smoother for the president. A Democratic win would also make a state long seen as solidly Republican competitive.

Source: ABC News