James Talarico is competing against Ken Paxton in a high-stakes Texas Senate race, facing massive outside spending from Elon Musk and Republican leadership.

James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, is facing more than $158 million in outside spending from Republican leadership and Elon Musk as the race against Republican Ken Paxton enters its final weeks. At a recent rally, Talarico compared his campaign to David fighting Goliath, framing the contest as a battle between the ultrawealthy and everyone else. The race is considered one of the most competitive and expensive in the nation, with polls showing the candidates are essentially tied.

Massive Financial Injections

Elon Musk donated $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund in September, which accounted for more than half of the super PAC's third-quarter fundraising. Additionally, Musk donated $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, a committee dedicated to supporting Paxton. These donations were made after polling indicated Paxton's chances of winning were dwindling, prompting Musk to step in to support the Republican candidate.

Talarico's Fundraising and Strategy

Talarico raised $64 million in the third quarter, the largest third-quarter fundraising total for a Senate candidate in history. His campaign has outpaced Paxton's in fundraising from donors, despite Republicans outspending him 2:1 overall. Talarico has positioned himself as a nonpartisan candidate, distancing himself from the Biden administration and appealing to voters across Democratic metros, border towns, and rural Republican areas.

Stakes of the Election

The winner of this race will help determine which party controls the Senate during President Donald Trump's final two years in office. Talarico is attempting to become the first Democrat to win a statewide office in Texas in over 30 years. His opponent, Ken Paxton, has faced questions regarding past corruption, including an impeachment by the Texas legislature from which he was later acquitted.