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Talarico raises record $64M in Texas Senate race; Trump blames Cornyn, Rove

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Neutral summary

James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, raised a record $64 million in the third quarter of 2026, his campaign announced, bringing his total fundraising to $134 million since he entered the race last year, according to CBS News. Politico reported that Talarico alone outraised ten of the top GOP Senate candidates combined over the past three months. Democrats have not won a statewide race in Texas since 1994 or a Senate seat there since 1988, but polls show Talarico in a tight race with Republican Ken Paxton, the state attorney general endorsed by President Trump. Trump has begun publicly spinning a possible defeat, posting on Truth Social: “If Ken Paxton loses, it will be because of WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Political Hacks like John Cornyn and Karl Rove.” The Hill reported that Trump also criticized Rove, a former adviser to George W. Bush, for backing a Democrat in a down-ballot Texas race. Axios noted that on the same day, FEC reports confirmed Elon Musk gave $158 million to the Senate GOP’s main super PAC in September in two transactions, each followed by an equal transfer to a Texas super PAC dedicated to electing Paxton. NBC News and CNBC highlighted that the fundraising haul makes Texas competitive, though Trump won the state by 14 points two years ago.

How it was framed

Outlets: 10. Countries: 2. Facts in the shared core: 4.

Publication timeline

  1. · NBC News (outlet profile)

    James Talarico touts record fundraising haul in Texas Senate race. Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico’s campaign says it raised $64 million in the third quarter of 2026, a staggering haul that would set a ne…

  2. · Newsweek (outlet profile)

    James Talarico Targets Data Centers Over Texas Energy Bills, Water Crisis. The Democratic Senate candidate has argued that companies should bear the costs associated with data center projects.

  3. · CBS News (outlet profile)

    Talarico announces record-breaking $64 million fundraising haul. The Talarico campaign said that brings his total fundraising to $134 million since he announced his candidacy last year.

  4. · CNBC (outlet profile)

    Democrat Talarico says he raised record $64 million over summer in Texas Senate race. Democrats have not won statewide in Texas since 1994 or a U.S. Senate race there since 1988, but James Talarico is making the state c…

  5. · ABC News (outlet profile)

    Talarico rallies as his Texas US Senate race against Paxton enters final weeks. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, is rallying with supporters as he aims to become the first Democrat to w…

  6. · Newsweek (outlet profile)

    Trump Calls Paxton ‘a Little Bit Controversial’ as Talarico Gains Momentum. President Trump praised Paxton as Texas’ best-ever attorney general but called him “a little bit controversial” on Thursday.

  7. · CNBC (outlet profile)

    Trump says 'if Ken Paxton loses' Texas Senate race, blame Cornyn and Karl Rove. "If Ken Paxton loses, it will be because of WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Political Hacks like John Cornyn and Karl Rove," Trump claimed on Truth So…

  8. · The Hill (outlet profile)

    Trump berates Cornyn, Rove for not backing Paxton: 'They are hurting Texas'. President Trump is once again attacking Republican Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), now saying the lawmaker is not doing enough to support his state'…

  9. · Bloomberg (outlet profile)

    Trump Says Cornyn, Rove to Blame If Paxton Loses Senate Race. President Donald Trump railed at Senator John Cornyn of Texas and longtime GOP strategist Karl Rove, accusing them of undermining Ken Paxton’s Senate campaig…

  10. · Politico (outlet profile)

    Trump lashes out at Republicans as Ken Paxton struggles in Texas. The president singled out Karl Rove and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn as his endorsed candidate appears to be in a tight race with James Talarico.

  11. · Axios (outlet profile)

    Trump names scapegoats as Republicans sweat in Texas. President Trump is preemptively blaming Sen. John Cornyn and Karl Rove for "doing everything possible to make it hard for Ken Paxton" to win the Texas Senate race. W…

  12. · Politico (outlet profile)

    Senate Republicans are getting smoked in fundraising. James Talarico alone outraised ten of the top GOP Senate candidates combined over the past three months

  13. · Onet Wiadomości (outlet profile)

    Zacięta walka o Senat w Teksasie. Donald Trump szuka winnych we własnej partii. "Słabi i nieskuteczni". Jeszcze do niedawna wydawało się, że republikanie bez problemu obronią swoją przewagę w Teksasie. Teraz jednak popi…

Factual core

  • The Texas race between Trump's endorsed candidate and James Talarico is tight.
  • Donald Trump said that if Ken Paxton loses the Texas Senate race, it will be because of John Cornyn and Karl Rove.
  • James Talarico raised $64 million in the third quarter, with 97% of contributions under $100.
  • Ken Paxton is running for the US Senate in Texas.

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