In a clear signal of the Trump administration’s commitment to keeping the U.S. Senate under Republican control, MAGA Inc., the president’s primary pro‑Trump super PAC, filed an FEC disclosure showing a $10 million purchase of television, streaming and digital advertising for the Texas Senate race.
Local impact of the ad blitz
The $10 million spend is the first general‑election expenditure by MAGA Inc. and underscores the importance of the contest between incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic challenger James Talarico. Half of the money will fund positive ads highlighting Paxton’s tax‑cut plan for healthcare and housing, while the other half will run negative spots attacking Talarico’s record on property taxes.
“High Tax Talarico wants to take money out of Texans’ pockets,” MAGA Inc. spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer wrote on X. “MAGA Inc. is going to ensure Texas knows about Talarico’s radical policies and elects Ken Paxton to the U.S. Senate.” The 30‑second spots repeatedly contrast “Talarico? Higher taxes” with “Paxton? Lower taxes,” framing the election as a clear choice for fiscal responsibility.
Funding landscape and rival spending
The ad buy follows a $1.4 million contribution from Elon Musk’s America PAC, which has also targeted Talarico with digital media and printed ads. While Talarico has out‑raised Paxton this summer—over $30 million to Paxton’s $9 million—Republican leaders are urging the president to pour additional resources into the state.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Fox News that the GOP cannot afford to lose Texas, saying, “All of our allies out there, including the president and his team, need to be brought to bear on Texas, because it’s not one that we can lose if we’re going to hang on to a Republican majority.” Louisiana Senator John Kennedy echoed the sentiment, hoping the president will spend “$100 or $200 million in Texas.”
Current ad totals and upcoming battle
According to ad‑tracking firm AdImpact, Talarico’s campaign has already spent $40.1 million on general‑election advertising, while Paxton’s campaign has logged only about $264,000, mostly on digital platforms. Democrats have spent $41.7 million, nearly all from Talarico, compared with $24.3 million from Republicans.
With just over six weeks until early voting begins, the $10 million injection from MAGA Inc. could tip the balance in a race that analysts describe as a rare toss‑up in a state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in more than three decades.
What the Trump administration says
President Trump told reporters that he controls close to $1 billion across his network of PACs and nonprofits and expects to spend $400 million to $500 million on the midterms. The Texas ad buy is a concrete example of that commitment, aimed at protecting low‑tax policies and family‑friendly economic plans that align with the administration’s broader agenda.
As the campaign season intensifies, Texas voters will see a flood of connected‑television and digital ads from both sides. The outcome will not only determine who represents the Lone Star State in Washington but also signal how effectively the Trump administration can mobilize its resources to safeguard conservative values at the federal level.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
