# Talarico calls Texas voters his slingshot against Musk's millions

> Democrat James Talarico frames his Texas Senate race as David versus Goliath, facing $158 million in outside spending while trying to flip a solidly Republican state.
- Title: Talarico calls Texas voters his slingshot against Musk's…
- Summary: Democrat James Talarico frames his Texas Senate race as David versus Goliath, facing $158 million in outside spending while trying to flip a solidly…
- Keywords: james talarico, ken paxton, texas senate race, elon musk, 2026 election, democratic campaign, senate control, Talarico, calls, Texas, voters, slingshot
- Source: Fortune — https://fortune.com/2026/10/16/elon-musk-158-million-gop-dem-james-talarico-texas
- Author: The Associated Press
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: james talarico, ken paxton, texas senate race, elon musk, 2026 election, democratic campaign, senate control
## Talarico frames race as David and Goliath
At a packed Texas rally on Thursday, Democrat James Talarico compared his U.S. Senate campaign to David fighting Goliath, facing one hundred fifty-eight million dollars in outside spending by Republican leadership and Elon Musk.

> You are my slingshot. We are going up against our own Goliaths.
## Talarico's populist message resonates
Talarico frames politics as ultrawealthy versus everyone else, not right versus left. He argues billionaires and corrupt politicians have rigged the system to make life unaffordable for ordinary people.
## Talarico seen as real contender now
Initially dismissed as another Democratic long shot, Talarico is now viewed as a genuine threat to Republican Ken Paxton, who faced corruption questions and impeachment by his own party in the Texas legislature.
## Texas Senate race will decide Senate control
Whoever wins the Texas race will help determine which party controls the Senate in President Donald Trump's final two years in office, making it either smooth sailing for Trump or a bog of investigations and…
## Musk pours one hundred fifty-eight million into race
Elon Musk contributed one hundred fifty-eight million dollars to the Senate Leadership Fund, which gave that amount to Texas PAC, the largest contributor to Paxton's campaign.
## Talarico's campaign outpaces Paxton in fundraising
Despite facing massive outside spending against him, Talarico's own campaign has raised record amounts of money in one of the nation's more expensive and competitive Senate races, outpacing Paxton's fundraising from donors.
## Talarico walks careful nonpartisan path
The seminarian and state representative has distanced himself from former President Joe Biden's administration and his own party.Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders is coming to Texas this month but will not share a stage with Talarico.
## Key takeaway

Democrat James Talarico is mounting a competitive Texas Senate campaign against Republican Ken Paxton, despite facing one hundred fifty-eight million dollars in outside spending from Elon Musk and GOP leadership.