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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.<\/p>\n
El\u00edas Valverde II\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
AUSTIN \u2013 James Talarico<\/a> has amassed a rare asset for a Texas Democrat: enough campaign cash to share with his party.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s political strength.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Talarico is using some of his financial advantage to support turnout efforts and downballot races while Republican Ken Paxton<\/a> has focused on raising money to close the gap with his better-funded Democratic rival.<\/p>\n Through the end of June, Talarico had about $70 million since the beginning of 2025, more than four times Paxton\u2019s $16.8 million haul, according to federal campaign finance reports.<\/p>\n Talarico\u2019s biggest investment is $250,000 to the House Democratic Campaign Committee, which supports Democrats in competitive state House races.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The caucus\u2019s campaign committee \u201cinvested in my campaign and helped provide the resources we needed to mobilize and win,\u201d Talarico said in a statement. \u201cThis campaign has never been about one person or one office.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re going to be working on voter outreach and helping many of these candidates with their communications and organizing\u201d and getting out the vote, Morales said.<\/p>\n Talarico\u2019s donation to the committee is the largest ever from an individual campaign and its largest single contribution since 2020.<\/p>\n Talarico also gave $100,000 to gubernatorial hopeful Gina Hinojosa, a fellow state representative from Austin.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In North Texas, he\u2019s contributed to Fort Worth Democratic state Sen. Taylor Rehmet, who flipped a GOP-held district in January<\/a>, and the Tarrant County Democratic Party.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tarrant County Democratic Chair Allison Campolo said Talarico\u2019s $20,000 donation will help Talarico compete in the closely divided county and boost candidates farther down the ballot.<\/p>\n The county party is better funded than it has been in recent years, Campolo said.\u00a0<\/p>\n It is using Talarico\u2019s donation to recruit volunteers and promote local candidates, including county judge candidate Alisa Simmons and district attorney candidate Tiffany Burks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey have to get to his name before they get to their names,\u201d Campolo said. \u201cObviously, we\u2019re the beneficiary of it, but it’s a very smart strategy to spread the wealth around when you can, and I’m really grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n By contrast, Paxton, the attorney general, has concentrated on his own campaign fundraising as he works to narrow Talarico\u2019s fundraising edge.\u00a0<\/p>\n Paxton recently visited Washington,<\/a>\u00a0seeking support from major donors who backed Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary. And other fundraisers are scheduled this month.<\/p>\n MAGA Inc., President Donald Trump\u2019s super PAC, also could spend some of its roughly $400 million to support Paxton<\/a>, who gained Trump\u2019s endorsement<\/a> shortly before the GOP runoff.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward to campaigning with other Republicans in the race and providing as much support as we can to keep Texas red,\u201d\u00a0Paxton campaign adviser Nick Maddux said in a statement.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Attorney General Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at Matt\u2019s Rancho Martinez restaurant, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Allen.<\/p>\n El\u00edas Valverde II\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n In previous elections, Gov. Greg Abbott has contributed to Republican candidates and organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n So far this election cycle, Abbott has not made any significant investments in GOP candidates or organizations but has attended Republican campaign events.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Talarico\u2019s approach resembles Beto O\u2019Rourke\u2019s strategy during his 2018 Senate campaign. O\u2019Rourke lost to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in a squeaker, but the midterm saw Democrats flip eight seats in the state House.<\/p>\n O\u2019Rourke 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"State Rep. 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