Democratic candidate James Talarico rallies as Texas Senate race enters final weeks

Democratic state representative James Talarico scheduled a campaign rally on Thursday as his bid for the United States Senate enters its final weeks, ABC News reported. ABC News and The Hill both report that Talarico is competing against Republican candidate Ken Paxton in a closely watched Texas race. Talarico is attempting to become the first Democrat to win a statewide election in Texas in over 30 years, according to ABC News. [1][2][11]

The Hill and the Texas Tribune reported that Talarico appeared solo at a town hall hosted by CNN and Jubilee on Wednesday evening to field questions from voters. During the event, Talarico called on Paxton to debate him. Talarico branded himself a border security Democrat and said the Biden administration failed Texas by not securing the border, according to The Hill. [2][4][10]

The race remains competitive as recent polling shows Talarico maintaining a narrowed lead over Paxton, according to the New York Times. Wealthy donors and political figures have stepped in as the contest tightens. The Hill reported that tech mogul Elon Musk donated 158 million dollars during the third quarter to Texas PAC, a super political action committee supporting Paxton. Politico reported that Donald Trump lashed out at Republicans, including Senator John Cornyn and Karl Rove, as Paxton struggles in the race. [5][6][7]

Paxton has served as the attorney general of Texas since 2015, while Talarico serves as a state representative. The election to fill the United States Senate seat in Texas will take place on November 3, 2026. As FTMQ Politics reported earlier, Trump has publicly criticized senior Republican figures regarding the state of Paxton's Senate campaign. [12][13][14]