Paxton spends $168 million on ads as Texas Senate race hits $573 million mark

The race for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas has consumed more than $573.2 million in advertising, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in American history. This massive spending war is centered on the contest between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state legislator James Talarico. The financial scale of the campaign has drawn intense scrutiny from voters and donors alike.

The current spending surge follows a shift in Texas voting patterns. In the 2024 presidential election, nearly one-third of the electorate, primarily Latino voters, broke from decades of Democratic support to back Donald Trump. Talarico acknowledges this change and argues that the current administration has failed to meet the economic expectations of these voters. He claims that prices have risen and corruption has worsened despite Republican promises.

A key point of contention is the enforcement of immigration laws. A YouGov poll indicates that 56% of Hispanic voters in Texas believe immigration enforcement has gone too far. Talarico criticizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for acting like a secret police force. He cites the July shooting of Mexican worker Lorenzo Salgado Araújo by an ICE agent in Houston as evidence of this trend.

Talarico proposes specific reforms to limit ICE powers, including banning masked agents and requiring body cameras. He supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes both border security and a path to citizenship for long-term residents. On asylum, he states the system needs review but argues that anyone with a legitimate claim should be able to seek refuge. He also proposes hiring more immigration judges to process cases and filter out fraudulent applications.

The funding disparity between the two camps is stark. Paxton's side has spent approximately $274.1 million on ads, with 92% coming from external groups. Elon Musk, the world's richest person, is the primary benefactor of these groups. According to CNN, at least $168 million of the more than $445 million Musk has given to Republicans has gone to groups supporting Paxton.

Talarico plans to use his campaign to push for a ban on super PACs, which can receive unlimited donations. His own campaign has received support from a super PAC backed by Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn founder, who has contributed at least $11.5 million. When asked about this, Talarico noted that no single donor has given him $200 million, contrasting his funding with the massive external support for his opponent.

The election is scheduled for November 3. Talarico frames the contest as a battle between the wealthy and the rest of the population. He told voters that the election is a chance to send a clear message to Musk: Texas is not for sale.