Donald Trump’s MAGA-aligned super PAC is making a major investment in Texas, steering $10 million into Republican Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate bid as Democratic long shot James Talarico looks to make the race a serious test of whether the Lone Star State can move closer to blue.
The cash infusion landed only days after Trump publicly promoted Paxton, delivering an unusual endorsement-style pitch in which he urged voters to back the scandal-plagued Texas attorney general while also taking jabs at his appearance.
‘So, Ken Paxton, you might not like the way he dresses. And I say this—it’s so insulting to him, but I might as well say it—you might not like the way he looks,’ Trump told attendees at the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday.
‘You might not love his look. You might not love his television interviews, but he was the best attorney general in the country, perhaps, he was one of the best in the entire country. And that speaks a lot louder than the suit he’s wearing that doesn’t look so great.’
Still, the barbs have not slowed MAGA Inc.’s support for Paxton. The Make America Great Again super PAC is committing $5 million to television and digital ads attacking Talarico, along with another $5 million aimed at boosting the Republican nominee.
Federal Election Commission records show MAGA Inc., the Trump-linked super PAC, sent the money Friday to Del Ray Media LLC.
Del Ray Media LLC is a leading Republican media firm with deep ties to GOP campaigns. According to OpenSecrets, the company spent roughly $336 million during the 2024 election cycle to help elect Republican candidates.
‘MAGA Inc. is going to ensure Texas knows about Talarico’s radical policies and elects Ken Paxton to the US Senate,’ spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer said in a statement to Politico, branding the Democrat as ‘High Tax Talarico.’
But the Democrat’s team was unfazed by the massive contribution, with his press secretary telling Our News Outlet the eyewatering contribution is proof the GOP is ‘scared.’
The MAGA Inc. super PAC has pledged $10 million in support for GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton, pictured above with Donald Trump in 2019
Paxton has endured multiple scandals in his political career. He is locked in a bitter battle for senator in Texas with underdog Democrat James Talarico
The large contribution comes just days after Trump mocked Paxton during a speaking event at the White House Rose Garden
‘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,’ JT Ennis, Talarico’s press secretary, told Our News Outlet.
Paxton thanked the president for his support following the contribution in a post on X on Saturday.
‘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, for your support. Together we will win for Texas and America,’ he wrote.
MAGA Inc. has been relatively quiet during this year’s midterms, with the only other donation this election cycle to Darline Graham’s campaign in South Carolina.
Graham ran to replace her brother, the late Senator Lindsey Graham, in a primary runoff in August. The super PAC contributed $827,000 to boost her campaign, according to FEC records.
Before the contribution to Graham, MAGA Inc. had not spent on any candidates since May, when it donated $560,000 to oust Representative Thomas Massie in favor of Ed Gallrein.
The president told his party at an event earlier this week that he would be traveling throughout the US to support Republicans in 35 tight races.
‘I’m gonna take the final 30 days, maybe a little bit more than that, because it’s all about 35 races,’ he said.
‘I’m gonna go to every one of those 35 places and I’m gonna see if we can get everyone elected.’
MAGA Inc. has spent $5 million in television and digital ads supporting Paxton and $5 million opposing Talarico (right)
Talarico’s campaign team seemed unfazed by the large contribution, telling Our News Outlet it is evidence the GOP is ‘scared’
On Friday, he vowed to help senators and congressmen who need it, pledging to spend ‘whatever amount of money necessary to try and help us.’
‘This is my money that I control,’ he said.
MAGA Inc. is not Trump’s personal money. It is an ‘unauthorized’ hybrid PAC and does not solicit donations for specific candidates.
The push for Paxton comes as the attorney general is locked in a tight battle in a state that has not had a Democratic senator in over three decades.
Paxton has faced multiple scandals during his political tenure. He was arrested in a federal fraud case, which was later dismissed.
A year later, he won re-election as state Attorney General.
He also faced an impeachment trial over allegations of bribery, dereliction of duty and disregard of official duties in 2023, but was acquitted on all charges.
Talarico’s campaign has also accused Paxton of fraudulently using funds during his election.
Paxton thanked the president his support following the mammoth contribution in a post on X on Saturday
A complaint submitted by Talarico’s campaign manager to the FEC on Wednesday accused Paxton of taking funds from an illegitimate political committee.
Paxton’s team has denied the allegations and the FEC has yet to investigate the claim.
The race is widely viewed as a toss-up. A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll on August 25 showed Talarico leading by three percentage points.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Paxton’s campaign and MAGA Inc. for additional comment.
