Key facts
- James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, will hold a fundraiser in Los Angeles on September 10.
- The event is hosted by "Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof and his wife, Heidi.
- Talarico has raised $72.0 million since the start of 2025, significantly outpacing GOP nominee Ken Paxton's $16.8 million.
- Talarico ended June with $23.3 million cash on hand, more than triple Paxton's reserves.
- Talarico has raised more than any other Texas general election nominee in the past decade at this stage of the race.
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the Texas U.S. Senate seat, is scheduled to hold a fundraising event in Los Angeles on September 10. The event will be hosted by television producer Damon Lindelof, known for co-creating "Lost," "The Leftovers," and "Watchmen," and his wife, Heidi.
The race is shaping up to be one of the most expensive in the nation. Talarico has set records for fundraising at this stage, raising $72.0 million since the start of 2025, significantly outperforming his Republican rival, Ken Paxton, who has raised $16.8 million. Talarico ended June with $23.3 million in cash on hand, more than triple Paxton's reserves.
Paxton, despite his fundraising disadvantage, benefits from new rules allowing national party committees to spend in coordination with candidates without limit. Republican candidates have also utilized joint fundraising committees more frequently, with Paxton raising $7.5 million through these vehicles compared to Talarico's $6 million. Talarico's campaign has also shown strong small-donor fundraising, with 51% of his total contributions coming from individuals donating less than $200.
In a separate development, Talarico was slated to appear on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" but was prevented from doing so on the broadcast by CBS lawyers, who cited concerns over the FCC's equal time rule. The interview ultimately aired on YouTube. Talarico has characterized the FCC's actions as political censorship.