Texas Senate Race Becomes Costliest Midterm Contest as GOP and Democrats Flood Candidates with Money

As the Texas Senate race enters its final phase, advertising expenditures have topped $440 million, establishing it as the priciest Senate contest of one outlet midterms and the second costliest non-presidential race on record. Democrat James Talarico’s campaign disclosed $30 million raised in the third quarter, adding to a total of $72 million collected since the start of 2025, while Republican Ken Paxton reported $18 million in the same period, a personal fundraising high.

However, Paxton benefits from extensive outside support, with GOP-aligned super PACs spending $131 million in a short span and overall Republican spending reaching $323 million, more than double the Democrats’ $116 million. Major polls continue to show Talarico ahead, though the leads are narrow and often fall within statistical margins of error. Analysts note that while money can influence turnout, its impact may diminish as voter preferences solidify.