2026 Senate race
Texas Senate
Toss Up Cook Political Report, as of October 6, 2026
Campaigns through 2026-09-30Outside money through 2026-10-19Source: FEC
outside money is 2.0×
what the campaigns raised
The short version
- James Talarico has raised $128.8M to Ken Paxton's $19.5M (6.6x), through September 30, 2026.
- Outside groups have reported $289.6M in general election spending: $54.7M helping the Democrat and $234.9M helping the Republican.
- Largest outside spender: Texas PAC, $77.8M opposing James Talarico.
Campaign money
James Talarico
- Raised
- $128.8M
- Spent
- $114.2M
- Cash on hand
- $14.6M
- From PACs
- $457K
- From individuals
- $122.3M
- Self funding
- $0
- Outside money for (general)
- $54.7M
Campaign totals through September 30, 2026.
Ken Paxton
- Raised
- $19.5M
- Spent
- $14.6M
- Cash on hand
- $4.9M
- From PACs
- $373K
- From individuals
- $19.0M
- Self funding
- $0
- Outside money for (general)
- $234.9M
Campaign totals through September 30, 2026.
Outside spending
Not included above: $34.4M in outside spending that filers reported for the primary, a runoff, or no specific election, involving these two nominees.
Biggest outside spenders, general election
| Spender | Position | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas PAC | Oppose James Talarico | $77.8M |
| Texas PAC | Support Ken Paxton | $69.3M |
| MAGA Inc. | Oppose James Talarico | $22.9M |
| Lone Star Rising PAC | Oppose Ken Paxton | $19.2M |
| America PAC | Oppose James Talarico | $18.5M |
| Lone Star Liberty PAC | Oppose James Talarico | $16.5M |
| Texas Forever | Oppose Ken Paxton | $10.9M |
| MAGA Inc. | Support Ken Paxton | $7.5M |
| Lower Costs NOW | Oppose Ken Paxton | $5.7M |
| Defend US PAC | Oppose James Talarico | $5.7M |
| Lower Costs NOW | Support James Talarico | $4.2M |
| America PAC | Support Ken Paxton | $4.1M |
| AB PAC | Support James Talarico | $3.7M |
| Lone Star Liberty PAC | Support Ken Paxton | $3.6M |
| Truth and Courage PAC | Oppose James Talarico | $2.3M |
Where the outside money came from
For the biggest spenders, the money is followed upstream while a single donor supplied at least half of it. From FEC receipts.
- Texas PAC ← $158.0M from SLF PAC (100% of its reported receipts) ← whose largest donor is Elon Musk, $158.0M
- America PAC ← $82.8M from Elon Musk (59% of its reported receipts)
- Texas Forever ← $2.2M from SMP (100% of its reported receipts)
- Lower Costs NOW ← $23.0M from SMP (60% of its reported receipts)
- Defend US PAC ← $6.0M from American Prosperity Caucus, Inc (58% of its reported receipts) No donor disclosure
These totals come from the 24 and 48 hour notices outside groups must file before ads run. They are the disclosed floor. Spending by groups that do not file independent expenditure notices, such as issue ads paid for by 501(c)(4) groups, does not appear here.
Top PAC donors to each campaign
D James Talarico
| PAC | Given | Checks |
|---|---|---|
| Lobo PAC FEC | $10K | 2 |
| SD PAC | $10K | 2 |
| Midwest Region Laborers' Political League | $8K | 2 |
| APWU COPA FEC | $5K | 1 |
| Engineers Political Education Committee (EPEC)/International Union of Operating Engineers | $5K | 1 |
| A New Direction PAC FEC | $5K | 1 |
| All for Our Country Leadership PAC FEC | $5K | 1 |
| The NEA Fund for Children & Public Education | $5K | 1 |
| ATU COPE | $5K | 1 |
| March on PAC | $5K | 1 |
Itemized PAC contributions processed by the FEC through June 30, 2026. 92 PACs in total.
R Ken Paxton
| PAC | Given | Checks |
|---|---|---|
| Senate Conservatives Fund | $10K | 2 |
| Best at Bringing Entrepreneurial Results Never Imagined or E FEC | $10K | 2 |
| Usap PAC FEC | $10K | 2 |
| Valero Poltiical Action Committee FEC | $5K | 1 |
| Textron Political Action Committee | $5K | 1 |
| Florida Leads FEC | $5K | 1 |
| CRH Americas Inc. PAC FEC | $5K | 1 |
| BNSF Railpac FEC | $5K | 1 |
| Badlands PAC FEC | $5K | 1 |
| People PAC FEC | $5K | 1 |
Itemized PAC contributions processed by the FEC through June 30, 2026. 32 PACs in total.
Primary Sources
- FEC candidate page, James Talarico: fec.gov/data/candidate/S6TX00479
- FEC committee filings, James Talarico principal campaign committee: C00919084
- FEC candidate page, Ken Paxton: fec.gov/data/candidate/S6TX00388
- FEC committee filings, Ken Paxton principal campaign committee: C00901918
- FEC independent expenditures, 2026 cycle: fec.gov independent expenditures
- Race rating: Cook Political Report, October 6, 2026
- Nominees: www.congresscountdown.com