MAGA Inc., a super PAC associated with former President Donald Trump, has injected $10 million into the Texas Senate race to support Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton's campaign against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. This marks the super PAC's first major expenditure in the midterm election cycle.
The significant ad spending, allocated for digital and television commercials across Texas, comes amid a tight race where recent polls indicate Paxton and Talarico are running nearly even. Trump's endorsement earlier this year previously aided Paxton in defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn for the Republican nomination.
Paxton acknowledged the support on social media, stating, "Together we will win for Texas and America." He contrasted his platform, which includes cutting costs and making life more affordable, with Talarico's record, which Paxton characterized as raising taxes on working families.
The ad campaign from MAGA Inc. is intended to highlight Talarico's policies on taxes and rural hospitals, while also promoting Paxton's support for measures such as doubling the child tax credit and offering tax breaks for medical expenses and first-time homebuyers.
Representatives for Talarico criticized the ad buy, labeling it as "dark money groups" funded by billionaires who are attempting to mislead voters. They stated that their campaign is building a "people-powered movement to fix this broken, corrupt political system."
MAGA Inc. spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer referred to Talarico as "High Tax Talarico," asserting that the Democrat "wants to take money out of Texans' pockets." Pfeiffer added that MAGA Inc. aims to inform Texans about Talarico's "radical policies" to ensure Paxton's election to the U.S. Senate.
According to the Texas Tribune, Talarico's campaign has raised approximately $72 million, largely from small donors, while Paxton's campaign has raised $16.8 million. MAGA Inc. reportedly holds around $400 million in campaign funds, with Trump having previously indicated his intention to spend necessary funds to support his favored candidates.