# Republicans pour $51M into saving Paxton

> National Republicans just dumped tens of millions into a Texas Senate seat they were supposed to win easily.
- Title: Republicans pour $51M into saving Paxton · Newsweek | Shortify
- Summary: National Republicans just dumped tens of millions into a Texas Senate seat they were supposed to win easily. Texas is now a real Senate race, and the size of…
- Keywords: texas, senate, 2026 midterms, campaign spending, polling, Republicans, pour, 51M, saving, Paxton, Newsweek
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/republicans-rally-behind-paxton-in-texas-with-millions-in-new-spending-12435877
- Published: 2026-09-12T21:28:13+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: texas, senate, 2026 midterms, campaign spending, polling
## Millions land in Texas
With under two months to Election Day, Republican groups are flooding Texas to prop up Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate run.
## A $51 million ad buy
Texas PAC, tied to the Senate Leadership Fund, has bought more than $51 million in ads backing Paxton, per AdImpact.
## Why the panic
Democrat James Talarico is polling neck and neck with Paxton, turning a safe red seat into one of the country's most watched races.
## The math for Democrats
Republicans hold the Senate 53-47. Democrats must hold every seat they have, including two in states Trump won, and flip four more.
## A 30-year drought
Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, and Trump carried it by 13.7 points in 2024. Beto O'Rourke's 2018 run fell short too.
## Paxton beat Cornyn first
Paxton won the May primary against longtime Senator John Cornyn, then picked up Trump's endorsement for the general.
## Musk and MAGA join in
MAGA Inc. reserved about $10 million in Texas ads. Elon Musk's America PAC has spent over $2.6 million boosting Paxton and hitting Talarico.
## A strategy reversal
The Senate Leadership Fund left Texas off its April target list. Now its chief says the party is united behind Paxton.

> The Republican Party is united to elect Ken Paxton and keep Texas red in November.
## Talarico had the money
By the end of June, Talarico had raised $68.5 million to Paxton's $9.2 million, with $21.5 million banked against Paxton's $1.75 million.
## Polls say coin flip
YouGov had Talarico up 5. Overton found a 44 to 43.4 dead heat. Emerson gave Paxton 47 to 46. Kalshi has them tied at 50.
## The national drag
Trump sits at 34 percent approval and 60 percent disapproval. Silver Bulletin shows Democrats ahead in nine Republican-held seats, Texas included.
## Key takeaway

Texas is now a real Senate race, and the size of the Republican ad buy is the clearest admission of it.