Talarico Spends $134M in Texas Senate Push

James Talarico finished his final weekend of campaigning in the Rio Grande Valley. He spoke to crowds in Corpus Christi and Weslaco, aiming to win the Texas Senate seat on Tuesday. His campaign has raised more than $134 million, making it the wealthiest Democratic Senate effort this cycle. That spending power is a departure from the underdog narratives of past Texas Democrats.

The candidate is attempting a historic feat. No Texas liberal has assembled a winning statewide coalition since 1994. Talarico faces Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, in a race that polling shows is within the margin of error. Paxton holds the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Despite that support, the Republican has struggled to unify his party. Many voters cite Paxton's impeachment trial, corruption charges, and marital issues as reasons for hesitation.

Economic pressures are driving voter sentiment. High costs of living, the war in Iran, and the administration's deportation program have heated up the debate. In Corpus Christi, Aurelia Ramirez and her grandson John Herrera discussed their shift in voting habits. Herrera voted for Trump in 2024 but has since soured on the president due to rising prices. Ramirez, a retired teacher, said she is now considering a Democratic vote to see how things go.

Talarico's strategy relies on repetition and broad appeal. His speeches cover faith, family, and freedom, often citing biblical figures like David and Jesus. He compares his campaign to a sports drama, telling supporters, "This is the last play of the last drive." Tory Gavito, president of the donor network Way to Win, warned that this approach has risks. She noted that young voters struggle to recall specific policy proposals. She questioned the effectiveness of ads touting property tax cuts, a concept she called meaningless to renters.

The campaign has focused heavily on Latino outreach. Adviser Chuck Rocha said the team spent roughly equal amounts on Latino and Black voters. This spending was the largest he had seen for a Texas candidate in his thirty-five years in politics. The effort targeted the Rio Grande Valley, a region that is more than ninety percent Latino. At a concert in Weslaco, more than 8,000 people attended an event hosted by Voto Latino.

Not all supporters are convinced of the candidate's connection to their specific concerns. Thomas Saenz, a twenty-three-year-old content creator in McAllen, noted that Talarico is less well known in the Valley than other local Democrats. Bobby Pulido, a congressional candidate, argued that a Talarico victory would be due to the Latino vote. However, Talarico did not mention immigration during his speech at the concert. He focused on reducing the influence of money in politics and used the local slogan, "Puro 956."

In Brownsville, wait times tested patience. Talarico arrived an hour late to an event space near the border. Martha de la Garza and her friend Analisa Martinez left after hearing his criticism of Paxton's finances. Martinez works in a secondhand store where business has dropped due to ICE raids. De la Garza knows people in immigration enforcement who are angry about the policies. She plans to vote for Talarico despite the local friction.

The candidate has avoided joint rallies with national Democratic figures. Surrogates say the focus is on Texas, not the national party. Christian Menefee, a new congressman from Houston, defended this choice. He said Talarico does not need a savior at the last minute. Jasmine Crockett, Talarico's primary opponent, claimed she has not been asked to campaign with him. Menefee said the lack of a joint caravan is less important than the shared goal of winning.

If elected, Talarico would represent the state with the largest Black American population in the country. Menefee advised Talarico to listen to Black communities after the primary loss. Chas Moore, an Austin activist, warned that voters might abstain if they feel the candidate does not understand their struggles. He said non-voting acts as a de facto vote for Paxton.