Paxton v Talarico: tens of millions of dollars pour into closely watched Texas Senate race

Republicans are leaning on Elon Musk's money as Texas becomes one of the costliest and tightest Senate contests of the midterm cycle. Democrats are mounting an unusual challenge in a state the GOP has long held, and polls show the race essentially even, with a few giving Democrat James Talarico a slim edge over Republican Ken Paxton, according to The Guardian.

Axios first reported that Musk put $158 million into the Senate Leadership Fund in September, more than half of what the main Republican Senate super PAC raised in the third quarter. He also gave $10 million to Lone Star Liberty Pac, which backs Paxton, after the fund's president, Alex Latcham, asked for it. A source confirmed the account to The Guardian. Axios says Musk and the fund stepped in once their polling showed Paxton's prospects fading, though Donald Trump had personally picked Paxton as nominee.

Talarico, a progressive known for faith-centered messaging, beat an established Democrat for the nomination and, Politico reports, brought in $64 million in the third quarter, a record for a Senate candidate.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian →