Talarico compares his campaign to David and Goliath after GOP invests over $158M against him

Texas Democrat James Talarico told a crowded rally Thursday that his U.S. Senate bid resembles the biblical David facing Goliath, casting supporters as his slingshot. Filings show more than $158 million in outside money working against the candidate, driven by Republican leadership and billionaire Elon Musk, whom Talarico did not name on stage, according to PBS NewsHour.

Control of the Senate for the rest of President Donald Trump's presidency hinges on the outcome. Talarico, a state representative and seminarian, hopes to be the first Democrat in over 30 years to win statewide in Texas. The candidate now looks competitive against Republican nominee Ken Paxton, whom fellow Republicans in the legislature impeached before an acquittal. Talarico has out-raised Paxton, and Trump has visited Texas to campaign for the Republican.

Federal filings show Musk gave $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which sent the same sum to a Texas PAC that is Paxton's largest contributor; Lone Star Liberty PAC received $10 million from Musk too. Talarico blames billionaires and corrupt politicians for rising costs, a message that drew a young crowd in San Marcos.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →