Trump’s super PAC MAGA Inc. has invested $10 million in ad buys to support Ken Paxton in the competitive Texas Senate race against Democrat James Talarico.
President Donald Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., has made a significant financial commitment to the midterm elections, disclosing $10 million in ad buys to support Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Paxton is currently facing a challenging race against Democrat James Talarico.
As reported by CNN, MAGA Inc. had over $400 million in cash reserves at the end of July. Trump indicated his willingness to spend up to $500 million in outside funding that he oversees, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming elections. “We’re going to spend a lot of money because we don’t want to lose our country,” he stated to reporters in the Oval Office.
One of the initial advertisements supporting Paxton features him addressing the issue of rising costs and proposing measures to reduce tax burdens for Texans. MAGA Inc. spokesman Alex Pfeiffer criticized Talarico, stating, “High Tax Talarico 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.”
Talarico’s campaign responded by labeling the claims as false. Campaign spokesperson JT Ennis remarked, “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. James was proud to vote for the largest property tax cut in Texas history and has consistently voted to cut taxes for working Texans.”
This substantial spending by MAGA Inc. coincides with new financial support from a super PAC associated with billionaire Elon Musk. The influx of funding is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of a race that could significantly impact the midterm elections. Democrats need to gain four seats to secure a majority in the Senate.
The timing of this spending is particularly strategic, as Republicans are set to gather in Texas for a midterm convention aimed at mobilizing GOP voters.
Earlier this year, Trump endorsed Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary. However, Paxton’s campaign has been marred by controversies, including a 2023 impeachment vote by the state House of Representatives over bribery and corruption allegations, from which he was later acquitted. These controversies have raised questions about Paxton’s appeal to voters.
In response to Paxton’s challenges, Talarico recently released his first negative advertisement targeting him, focusing on the corruption allegations. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund, which had previously supported Cornyn in the primary, are now looking to MAGA Inc. to lead the charge in supporting Paxton during the general election.
The developments in this race underscore the high stakes involved as both parties prepare for a pivotal election season.
According to CNN, the outcome of the Texas Senate race could be critical for the balance of power in the Senate.