# Texas Senate Race Nears Election Day

> Texas Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton battle for control of the state in the most expensive U.S. Senate race.
- Title: Texas Senate Race Nears Election Day · Texastribune | Shortify
- Summary: Texas Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton battle for control of the state in the most expensive U.S. Senate race. James Talarico and Ken Paxton…
- Keywords: texas, senate, james talarico, ken paxton, u.s. senate, election day, democrat, republican, polling, campaign, news, local
- Source: Texastribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17511972/texas-us-senate-election-paxton-talarico-final-push-election-day
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: texas, senate, james talarico, ken paxton, u.s. senate, election day, democrat, republican, polling, campaign, news, local
## Texas Senate Race
James Talarico, a 37-year-old Austin Democrat, runs neck-and-neck with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the most expensive U.S. Senate race.
## Historic Stakes
The last time a Democrat won statewide in Texas was when James Talarico was in kindergarten, making this race the most critical for a blue Texas.
## Election Impact
A Talarico win could reshape the national political map and secure Texas for the 2028 presidential race, while a Paxton victory risks losing the state to the left.
## Funding Disparity
Talarico raised more money than any Senate candidate in the country, while Republicans spent $272 million from Elon Musk-funded groups to counter his campaign.
## Paxton's Scandals
Paxton faces impeachment by the Texas House over bribery and corruption, a $3.3 million taxpayer cost for his travel, and felony securities fraud charges.
## Talarico's Message
Talarico ties a broken economy to billionaire political influence, casting Paxton as the embodiment of corporate corruption and wealth inequality.
## Early Voting
Over 7.4 million Texans cast ballots in early voting, exceeding 2022's early votes by 36%, with Republicans warning of disaster if turnout doesn't improve.
## Paxton's Campaign
Paxton uses the Alamo as a symbol of Texas conservatism, claiming Talarico would lead to a blue Texas and the loss of conservative identity.
## Talarico's Vision
Talarico calls for cross-partisan unity, emphasizing Texas public schools, economy, and families as the state's future.
## Campaign Strategies
Talarico focuses on economic inequality and corporate influence, while Paxton targets conservative identity and anti-left sentiment.
## Flu-Gate Incident
Talarico's flu diagnosis led to a conspiracy theory that he was institutionalized in Ohio, which he denied with home security camera evidence.
## Debate Avoidance
Paxton refused at least four debate invitations from news stations, marking the first U.S. Senate race in Texas since 2000 without a debate.
## Election Outcome
The race hinges on turning out Democratic base voters, independents, and Latino voters, with Republicans struggling to secure enough turnout.
## Key Figures
Manny Garcia, former Texas Democratic Party executive director, called winning a statewide race in Texas one of the most difficult political challenges in the world.
## Campaign Spending
The combined $408 million in advertising since the primaries has fueled a split screen of Texas politics between Talarico and Paxton.
## Final Push
As Election Day approaches, Talarico and Paxton crisscross the state to turn out voters, with Paxton announcing a final rally at the Alamo.
## Key takeaway

James Talarico and Ken Paxton are neck-and-neck in Texas's U.S. Senate race, with the outcome potentially reshaping national politics and Texas's political future.