Trump’s political machine just fired a $10 million warning shot into the Texas Senate race — and it’s all going to save Ken Paxton from a Democrat threatening to flip deep-red Texas blue for the first time in 33 years.
The pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. reported a $10 million independent expenditure in the Texas Senate race, according to a Federal Election Commission filing released this weekend. The buy splits evenly: $5 million backing Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and $5 million targeting Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.
The money went to Del Ray Media LLC of Alexandria, Virginia, a political media firm. The filing listed the disbursement on Sept. 4, with ads hitting the airwaves Sept. 5.
This marks the first general-election spending Trump’s operation has committed this cycle, according to Bloomberg. Republicans had pressed the president for weeks to throw his weight behind Paxton as the party fights to protect slim majorities in both the House and Senate. MAGA Inc. entered the race sitting on a war chest exceeding $400 million, according to CBS News.
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. https://t.co/ZfNOImZmd3
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) September 5, 2026
Texas hasn’t sent a Democrat to the Senate in 33 years, yet Paxton and Talarico remain locked in a dead heat. Several analysts now rate the contest a toss-up, according to The Texas Tribune.
“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.” — MAGA Inc. spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer
MAGA Inc. released two 30-second commercials centered on tax policy, hammering Talarico’s record. The ads accuse the Democrat of wanting to raise taxes on working families while Paxton promises to cut costs and make life more affordable for Texans.
Talarico’s camp fired back, claiming the commercials misrepresent his tax record. “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 spokesperson JT Ennis said, according to The Texas Tribune. “James was proud to vote for the largest property tax cut in Texas history and has consistently voted to cut taxes for working Texans.”
The fundraising numbers tell a different story about outside support. Talarico has vastly outraised Paxton, pulling in more than $30 million to Paxton’s $9 million-plus in the second quarter, The Texas Tribune reported. Billionaire Elon Musk’s America PAC has already spent $1.4 million against the Democrat.
Trump has ramped up his attacks on Talarico in recent weeks, branding him “Tala-freako” and calling him one of the worst candidates he has ever seen, according to CBS News.
The $10 million Trump injection signals the president isn’t taking any chances in a state Republicans can’t afford to lose. Paxton now has the firepower — and the Trump stamp of approval — heading into the final stretch.
James Talarico means higher taxes for Texas. pic.twitter.com/EombE1nr5U
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) September 5, 2026
When it comes to taxes, Ken Paxton is the better choice. pic.twitter.com/0rI2d6fNab
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) September 5, 2026
