Texans Head to Polls in Historic US Senate Race
Voters in Texas have started casting ballots in the costliest US Senate contest in history, fueled by massive spending from candidates and outside groups.
Voters in Houston and across the state have begun casting ballots in a high-stakes US Senate race that has officially become the most expensive in American history. A combined total of at least $573.2m has been injected into supporting Republican candidate Ken Paxton and Democratic contender James Talarico ahead of the November 3 election.
The astronomical spending has left many locals uneasy while they participate in an election heavily focused on affordability concerns. Rico Sanchez, a union sheet metal worker who voted for Democrats, expressed frustration that such vast sums are being directed toward questionable areas amid a high cost of living. Kasey Blanco, a split-ticket voter, described the financial influence as scary and argued that political power should belong firmly to the people.
Financial backing for the candidates comes from both direct campaign fundraising and independent spending. Talarico has outpaced Paxton in direct campaign funds by raising $155m compared to Paxton's $40m. However, Paxton has benefited immensely from super PACs, which can spend unlimited amounts without direct campaign coordination. Notably, billionaire Elon Musk has contributed at least $212m to support Paxton through channels including the Senate Leadership Fund, alongside contributions from Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc PAC. Meanwhile, the Lone Star Rising PAC has directed at least $21m toward supporting Talarico.
Texas voters head to the polls in the most expensive US Senate election in history.
Closing out their campaigns on Monday, both candidates delivered sharp final pitches. Talarico drew attention to Paxton's past corruption allegations and criticized the heavy influence of billionaire money, framing his campaign as an underdog battle inspired by the television show Friday Night Lights. A victory for Talarico would mark the first statewide win for a Texas Democrat since 1994. Conversely, Paxton framed his opponent as a threat to the state's traditional low-tax and conservative model, invoking the 1836 Texas Revolution and warning supporters that losing Texas would mean having nowhere else to go.
Why it matters
This pivotal contest breaks spending records and highlights the growing influence of outside financial contributions in American elections. The outcome will determine whether Republicans maintain their three-decade hold on statewide office in Texas or if Democrats achieve a historic victory.