Trump-linked MAGA Inc pours $10M into Ken Paxton's Texas Senate race against James Talarico
MAGA Inc., the super political action committee aligned with President Donald Trump, is putting $10 million behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's U.S. Senate bid, marking the committee's first significant midterm advertising investment, according to a Federal Election Commission filing.
The spending marks a new chapter in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. Paxton, a Republican, faces Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in a contest that public polling has consistently shown as a statistical tie. The $10 million will fund a combination of digital and television advertising airing across Texas.
Paxton earned Trump's endorsement earlier in the year, a boost that helped him defeat longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a hard-fought Republican primary. On Saturday, Paxton took to X to acknowledge the latest show of support from the president, writing, "While James Talarico has a record of raising taxes on working families, my Protecting the Texas Promise Agenda cuts costs and makes life more affordable. Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump, for your support. Together we will win for Texas and America."
The decision follows weeks of speculation about whether the super PAC would ultimately deploy resources in the contest. MAGA Inc. reported roughly $400 million in available funds, a sum Trump himself referenced in recent remarks to reporters. "I have my money," Trump said. "I'm going to spend whatever amount of money necessary to try and help us."
Talarico's campaign was quick to push back against the ad buy. A spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "Billionaire-backed dark money groups are lying about James Talarico because they're scared of the people-powered movement we're building to fix this broken, corrupt political system."
Talarico, who has publicly advocated for higher taxes on the wealthy, used the moment to sharpen his message ahead of the Republican midterm convention set to begin Wednesday in Dallas. "Next week, billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians will gather at a convention in Dallas to clink champagne glasses and toast their own corruption," Talarico said. "They're paying $20,000 for entry to a Billionaire Ball celebrating corrupt tariffs, billionaire tax breaks, and a new forever war that are all driving grocery costs through the roof. We'll be doing something different. We're bringing Republicans, Democrats and independents together to collect groceries for our neighbors who have been screwed over by corrupt politicians."
MAGA Inc. spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer cast Talarico as out of step with Texas voters, telling Fox News Digital that the Democrat "wants to take money out of Texans' pockets. MAGA Inc. is going to ensure Texas knows about Talarico's radical policies and elects Ken Paxton to the U.S. Senate." The group has nicknamed the Democrat "High Tax Talarico" in its messaging.
The two ads funded by the new spending attack Talarico over his positions on taxes and rural hospitals while promoting Paxton's policy platform, which includes doubling the child tax credit, expanding tax deductions for medical expenses, and creating a $50,000 deduction for first-time homebuyers.
Fundraising numbers reported by the Texas Tribune underscore the very different coalitions behind each campaign. Talarico's operation has brought in $72 million since launching, with the bulk coming from small-dollar donors. Paxton's campaign, by contrast, has raised $16.8 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.