Brief

James Talarico raises record $64 million in Texas Senate race

Talarico’s total now stands at $134 million, the highest ever for a Senate candidate in a third‑quarter period.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:50:47 GMT

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico announced Thursday that his campaign has raised $64 million in the past three months, a record for any Senate candidate in a third‑quarter period, according to the campaign.

What happened

The $64 million haul brings Talarico’s cumulative fundraising to $134 million since he entered the race last year. His Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, reported raising $18 million over the same timeframe. Talarico surpassed the previous record of $57 million set by Jamie Harrison in South Carolina’s 2020 Senate primary.

What the reports add

CBS News noted that Talarico’s fundraising outpaces historic Texas Democratic efforts, including Beto O’Rourke’s $38 million three‑month total in 2018. The outlet also mentioned recent polls showing Talarico with a slight lead over Paxton.

What was said

At a CNN‑hosted town hall, Talarico said, "We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis," and described how false online claims about his health had spread widely. Paxton announced a two‑week bus tour ending at the Alamo before Election Day.

How it came about

Fundraising in Texas Senate races has intensified since President Donald Trump called Talarico “missing in action” after a flu diagnosis on Oct. 8, a story covered by Felo News (trump-calls-talarico-missing-in-action). Earlier high‑profile fundraisers, such as the Manhattan event hosted by allies of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, also highlighted the race’s national significance.

Key facts

James Talarico raised $64 million in three months (cbsnews.com)
Talarico's total fundraising is $134 million since his candidacy began (cbsnews.com)
Ken Paxton raised $18 million in the same period (cbsnews.com)