Key facts
- Donald Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., has $356 million available but has not committed funds to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate campaign.
- Paxton, who secured the Republican nomination with Trump's endorsement, faces a well-funded Democratic challenger, James Talarico, in a race now considered competitive.
- Republicans are concerned that Paxton's campaign will require significant outside funding, potentially diverting resources from other key battleground states.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott has a substantial war chest of nearly $96 million, though it is unclear if he will directly fund Paxton.
- The outcome of the Texas Senate race is seen as critical for Republicans to maintain their narrow majority in the Senate.
Republicans are expressing concern that President Donald Trump may not allocate funds from his substantial $356 million war chest to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his upcoming U.S. Senate race. Paxton secured the Republican nomination with Trump's late endorsement but now faces a formidable Democratic challenger, state Representative James Talarico, who has significantly outraised him.
Paxton's campaign has raised $7.6 million and has $2.3 million on hand, while Talarico's campaign reported raising $40 million with $9.9 million in reserve. This financial disparity has led to worries within the Republican party that Texas, a state Trump won by nearly 14 points in 2024, could be in play for Democrats. The Republican establishment had already spent heavily to support Senator John Cornyn in the primary, and a close race in Texas could force them to divert resources from other crucial battleground states.
Senator Cynthia Lummis suggested Trump should financially back his endorsed candidates, and a Senate Republican, speaking anonymously, expressed an expectation that Trump would invest in Paxton's campaign. Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser at MAGA Inc., acknowledged Texas as an open Republican seat that must be won, though he did not disclose spending plans. Political science professor Cal Jillson noted that Trump's endorsement created the current close race for Paxton.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also has a significant war chest of nearly $96 million, but his campaign has not confirmed direct funding for Paxton. Republicans are united in their focus on winning the election, but the financial challenge facing Paxton has become a point of concern for the party as they aim to maintain their narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate.