AUSTIN — Democrat James Talarico said Wednesday his campaign raised $27 million in the first three months of 2026, an early, massive haul for his Senate campaign.
The tally underscores Talarico’s fundraising prowess, even as his campaign has refused to accept donations from corporate political action committees. Since the March 3 primary, when he defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, his campaign has raised $10 million.
It’s a surge that offers a fresh test for Democrats on whether money and turnout can close the gap in a still-red state.
“Grassroots contributors from almost every county in Texas are sending Washington D.C. a message: They’re tired of this broken, corrupt political system and they’re ready to take back Texas for working people,” Talarico said in a statement.
Sen. John Cornyn’s campaign said it raised $9 million during the first quarter of the year. Attorney General Ken Paxton, who faces Cornyn in the May 26 Republican runoff, has yet to report any fundraising numbers.
Since launching his Senate bid last year, Talarico, a state representative from Austin, has turned viral media moments into campaign dollars.
After CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert said his network blocked the airing of an interview with Talarico in February, he raised $2.5 million in 24 hours.
That is included in Talarico’s latest total, the most the campaign has reported in any three-month period.
The money will be necessary to wage a competitive campaign in a state that has not elected a Democrat statewide in more than 30 years.
Combined spending in the Texas Senate primary has surpassed any in U.S. history, underscoring the race’s scale and national stakes, and is expected to top $300 million.
Talarico said his campaign so far has received nearly a million donations from 540,000 individuals, bringing the total amount raised to $40 million.