Democratic nominee James Talarico is gaining momentum in the Texas U. S.
Senate race against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, powered by expanding national fundraising networks and strategic voter outreach across the state.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer launched a new political action committee named Texas Forever, affiliated with the Senate Majority PAC, to boost Talarico's bid to flip the seat Republicans have held since 1988.
Talarico raised $31.6 million in the second quarter and $72 million since early 2025, outpacing Paxton's $16.8 million.
National Republican groups such as the Senate Leadership Fund are pouring over $100 million into advertising to close the gap.
Recent polling analysis from the Texas Tribune shows Talarico holding larger leads over Paxton than former candidate Beto O'Rourke maintained during his close 2018 campaign against Sen.
Ted Cruz.
Black Voter Outreach and Early Skepticism
Community leaders previously noted skepticism among Black voters after Talarico defeated Representative Jasmine Crockett in the primary, but enthusiasm grew as he actively campaigned in local Black communities and media programs.
"There's no pulse," said Durrell Douglas, a community organizer and podcaster, two months ago regarding initial voter engagement before campaign efforts expanded.
Host Charlamagne Tha God raised internal polling concerns during Talarico's appearance on the Breakfast Club radio show.
"I told somebody you were coming up here, and they said, 'Oh his internals must show he's down bad with Black people,'" said Charlamagne Tha God.
Talarico addressed his strategy during the hourlong broadcast while engaging audiences through radio and church visits.
Baylor Rally and Campus Reactions
At a Sept.
16 rally at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Talarico drew over 1,000 attendees to address wealth disparity while avoiding explicit mention of his Christian faith, despite his background as a Presbyterian seminarian.
"The real fight in this country is not left versus right," said Talarico, emphasizing his focus on economic reform and making life affordable for working families.
"It's top versus bottom," he said.
Baylor students voiced mixed reactions regarding Talarico's platform and his progressive religious stance.
"Jesus loves everyone, and that's how Talarico operates," said Jeremiah Ocloo, a freshman pre-med student at Baylor University.
Student protesters from the campus group Bears for Life countered Talarico's moderate platform during his campus visit.
"At first, when I heard about Talarico, I was really interested," said Owen Roos, a student protester at Baylor University.
Protesters argued that core conservative principles and pro-life positions are essential to Christian faith.
"But the more I started learning about him, the more I realized what he was saying about being a centrist was a facade," said Roos.
"There are conservative issues that are central as Christians to believe," said Cameron Paschki, a student protester at Baylor University.
"I do not believe you can be a Christian and not support the right to life of all human beings God has created," said Paschki.
Some student supporters maintained that personal beliefs regarding social issues should remain separate from government regulation.
"It's not a politician's job to tell people what to do," said Carlos Quiroz, a graduate student at Baylor University.
"God has given us free agency," said Quiroz.
"As a Christian it is important to love each other," said Julian Campos, a junior student at Baylor University.
Critical observers noted Talarico's online outreach strategy and broad viral appeal.
"Social media, where a lot of sound bites can go viral," said Luke Landskov, a senior student at Baylor University.
Landskov expressed reservations regarding Talarico's political messaging strategy, describing it as "a watered-down version of Christianity" used "as a voting mechanism."
At The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, Talarico discussed policy, immigration, and appealing to cross-party voters ahead of the Nov.
3 election.
"We know that this is a nation of immigrants," said Talarico, noting his family heritage as evidence of the nation's history of immigration.
"You wouldn't be interviewing a guy with the last name Talarico if this was not a nation of immigrants," he said.
Talarico asserted that winning the election requires building a broad coalition of voters.
"[The voters] got to be democrats, independents, republicans," said Talarico, emphasizing outreach to citizens who feel disconnected from current political dynamics.
"It's also got to be people who are fed up and disillusioned with this political system," he said.
Addressing immigration policy reform, Talarico expressed hope that current border tensions would push Congress toward comprehensive legislative action.
"I think the current crisis, with masked men and unmarked vehicles, killing people on our streets, my prayer is that this crisis will actually lead to us finally passing comprehensive immigration reform in this country," said Talarico.
Talarico noted that border security and clear legal pathways to citizenship can be managed concurrently.
"We don't have to pick between those things," he said, outlining a dual approach to border management and welcoming legal immigrants.
"We can have a system that keeps out people who mean to do us harm, and welcomes folks who want to contribute to this nation," said Talarico.
"That is absolutely possible, and I think we can pass it if we build the political will to get it done," he said.
Closing his remarks at TribFest, Talarico outlined his broader vision for Texas political representation.
"We can build a new kind of politics that brings people together, that delivers for working families in this state, and leads us to a better, brighter future," said Talarico.
