State Rep. James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at Esports Stadium Arlington on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Arlington.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – James Talarico has amassed a rare asset for a Texas Democrat: enough campaign cash to share with his party.
After assembling a formidable fundraising operation, Talarico has distributed roughly $600,000 to candidates and party organizations across Texas in an effort to strengthen Democrats beyond his own race.
The donations offer an early contrast in a Senate race in a sprawling state with expensive media markets, where campaign cash is essential to reaching voters and a sign of a candidate’s political strength.
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Talarico is using some of his financial advantage to support turnout efforts and downballot races while Republican Ken Paxton has focused on raising money to close the gap with his better-funded Democratic rival.
Through the end of June, Talarico had about $70 million since the beginning of 2025, more than four times Paxton’s $16.8 million haul, according to federal campaign finance reports.
Talarico’s biggest investment is $250,000 to the House Democratic Campaign Committee, which supports Democrats in competitive state House races.
The donation represents a significant investment in campaign infrastructure rather than a single candidate, signaling Talarico’s confidence that stronger turnout operations in competitive House districts could also benefit his Senate run.
The caucus’s campaign committee “invested in my campaign and helped provide the resources we needed to mobilize and win,” Talarico said in a statement. “This campaign has never been about one person or one office.”
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The committee is targeting several Republican-held seats that its chair, Houston state Rep. Christina Morales, said Democrats can flip. They include five suburban North Texas districts.
“We’re going to be working on voter outreach and helping many of these candidates with their communications and organizing” and getting out the vote, Morales said.
Talarico’s donation to the committee is the largest ever from an individual campaign and its largest single contribution since 2020.
Talarico also gave $100,000 to gubernatorial hopeful Gina Hinojosa, a fellow state representative from Austin.
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In North Texas, he’s contributed to Fort Worth Democratic state Sen. Taylor Rehmet, who flipped a GOP-held district in January, and the Tarrant County Democratic Party.
Tarrant County Democratic Chair Allison Campolo said Talarico’s $20,000 donation will help Talarico compete in the closely divided county and boost candidates farther down the ballot.
The county party is better funded than it has been in recent years, Campolo said.
It is using Talarico’s donation to recruit volunteers and promote local candidates, including county judge candidate Alisa Simmons and district attorney candidate Tiffany Burks.
“They have to get to his name before they get to their names,” Campolo said. “Obviously, we’re the beneficiary of it, but it’s a very smart strategy to spread the wealth around when you can, and I’m really grateful.”
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By contrast, Paxton, the attorney general, has concentrated on his own campaign fundraising as he works to narrow Talarico’s fundraising edge.
Paxton recently visited Washington, seeking support from major donors who backed Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary. And other fundraisers are scheduled this month.
MAGA Inc., President Donald Trump’s super PAC, also could spend some of its roughly $400 million to support Paxton, who gained Trump’s endorsement shortly before the GOP runoff.
“We look forward to campaigning with other Republicans in the race and providing as much support as we can to keep Texas red,” Paxton campaign adviser Nick Maddux said in a statement.
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Attorney General Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at Matt’s Rancho Martinez restaurant, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Allen.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
In previous elections, Gov. Greg Abbott has contributed to Republican candidates and organizations.
His most notable cash infusion into downballot races was in 2024, when he spent millions of dollars ousting Republican state House members who voted against a school voucher plan.
So far this election cycle, Abbott has not made any significant investments in GOP candidates or organizations but has attended Republican campaign events.
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Talarico’s approach resembles Beto O’Rourke’s strategy during his 2018 Senate campaign. O’Rourke lost to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in a squeaker, but the midterm saw Democrats flip eight seats in the state House.
O’Rourke gave about $2.7 million to the Texas Democratic Party during that campaign and contributed to individual candidates. He spread campaign money again during his 2022 gubernatorial bid, though Democrats lost three Texas House seats that year.