Talarico rallies in San Marcos as Texas Senate race with Paxton enters final weeks

Left · 2James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, rallied with supporters on Thursday 15 October in San Marcos, a small city south of Austin, as the race against Republican Ken Paxton entered its final weeks. 1 2 Left · 2If he wins, Talarico would be the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas in over 30 years. 1 2 Left · 2Both reports say national perception of the campaign has shifted: Talarico, a state representative and seminarian, was first seen as the latest Democratic hopeful whose optimism would fade by Election Day, but is now viewed as a real contender. 1 2

Left · 2His progress is partly attributed to voter wariness of Paxton, who has faced corruption questions, including impeachment by the Republican-led Texas legislature, of which he was later acquitted. 1 2 Left · 1The AP reported that Talarico raised $64 million in the third quarter, which his campaign described as a record for a Senate candidate, far outpacing Paxton. 1 Left · 1On the other side, the AP said President Donald Trump has made several trips to Texas to rally for Paxton and the Senate Leadership Fund, the GOP leadership super PAC, has spent over $124 million on ads promoting him. 1

Left · 1The Independent reported that filings released Thursday showed Elon Musk gave $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which transferred $158 million to Texas PAC, the main backer of Paxton's effort, and that Musk also gave $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, another committee supporting Paxton. 2 Left · 1At the rally Talarico compared his campaign to David and Goliath, telling the crowd "You are my slingshot" and "We are going up against our own Goliaths," without naming Musk or the funding against him, according to The Independent. 2 Left · 1The Independent said the metaphor fits his framing of politics as a clash between the ultrawealthy and everyone else, and that he argued rising living costs stem from a system manipulated by billionaires and corrupt politicians; attendee Kaitlyn Johnson, a 29-year-old bartender, said of the wealthy, "They think that they can buy us." 2

Left · 2Talarico has pursued a broad path across Democratic-leaning cities, border towns that shifted to Republicans last election, and rural Republican areas, focusing on rising costs and distancing himself from the Biden administration and his party; Sen. Bernie Sanders is campaigning in Texas this month but will not share a stage with him. 1 2 Left · 2The rally followed nine days out of public view due to the flu, which prompted online rumours from conservative influencers, falsely claiming he was at a mental health treatment center in Ohio; both outlets say the claim quickly fell apart. 1 2 Left · 2The result will help determine which party controls the Senate during Trump's final two years in office. 1 2