Top Senate Republicans led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune are investing millions of dollars in Texas to help Attorney General Ken Paxton win the Republican nomination for US Senator. The Senate Leadership Fund's new PAC will launch an initial eight-figure ad buy on Friday and run continuously through Election Day, with most recent polls indicating a narrow lead for Democratic challenger James Talarico. A total of $17 million has been raised by Paxton's campaign, compared to over $72 million raised by Talarico's campaign. The move marks a shift in support from Sen. John Cornyn to Paxton after Trump endorsed the latter.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Top Senate Republicans are pouring millions of dollars into Texas, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, to ensure a GOP win in the state's upcoming election. The effort is focused on supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is in a tight race against Texas State Rep. James Talarico. Thune and others argue that Talarico is too progressive for Texas, citing his party's shift to the left. The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC tied to Thune, plans to launch an initial eight-figure ad buy on Friday to boost Paxton's campaign. This influx of cash is seen as a key factor in the midterm elections, which are closing in.
Written for “Ken Paxton Corruption Scandal” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score withheld for article 8113: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-11
Top Senate Republicans are unleashing millions of dollars into Texas to ensure that the GOP holds on to the seat as the midterm elections close in.
asserted
elections → unleash → seat
The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC tied to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., plans to launch the Texas PAC, unlocking a war chest of campaign funds to ensure Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wins out in November.
asserted
Paxton → tie → November
Paxton is in a tight race against Texas State Rep. James Talarico, who has become a prime target for Republicans who argue that the state lawmaker is too progressive for deep red Texas.
asserted
lawmaker → become → Texas
"As the Democrat Party gets pulled further to the left, extreme candidates like James Talarico are becoming the norm," Thune told Fox News Digital in a statement.
asserted
Thune → pull → statement
"Republicans are united in keeping him out of the U.S. Senate, which is why I’m proud of the work the Senate Leadership Fund is doing to ensure Texas stays red."
asserted
Texas → unite → work
A source familiar told Fox News Digital that during the convention’s final day on Thursday, Thune attended a fundraiser for Paxton to help boost his campaign.
asserted
Thune → tell → campaign
The new PAC will launch an initial eight-figure ad buy on Friday, the day after the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas is set to wrap up.
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convention → launch → Dallas
The group tells Fox News Digital they plan to run ads continuously through Election Day in Texas, and the first two will paint Paxton in a positive light, with another showing the contrast between the candidates.
While the convention has been used to energize President Donald Trump’s base to get out and vote in tight contests across the country, the Texas Senate race was of particular emphasis.
asserted
race → tell → emphasis
And the flow of cash to support Paxton marks a pivot for the Senate Republican leadership, who earlier in the year, threw their full support behind Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
asserted
who → support → Cornyn
But Trump’s endorsement of Paxton over Cornyn ultimately ended the longtime lawmaker’s bid and set up a messy period of making amends after the dust settled in their runoff race.
asserted
dust → end → race
Now, Republicans are showing a unified front and working to help Paxton financially as he tries to stave off Talarico.
asserted
he → show → Talarico
Most of the latest public opinion surveys in the Senate showdown indicate Talarico with a slight single-digit edge over Paxton.
asserted
Most → indicate → Paxton
The most recent Fox News poll, which was conducted at the end of July, indicated Talarico with a 51%-48% margin over Paxton.
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which → conduct → Paxton
The race is one of roughly a dozen that will determine if the GOP holds its Senate majority in the midterms.
asserted
GOP → determine → midterms
The launch of the Texas PAC comes a week after MAGA, Inc., the super PAC linked to President Donald Trump, made its first major midterm buy with $10 million in ad spending to support Paxton.
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Inc. → come → Paxton
The support from the Texas PAC and MAGA Inc. is a boost for Paxton, with Talarico’s campaign holding a massive campaign cash advantage over Paxton’s campaign heading into the final stretch leading up to November’s midterms.
asserted
campaign → hold → midterms
Talarico has hauled in over $72 million in fundraising since launching his Senate campaign last year, compared to roughly $17 million by Paxton, according to federal filings.
uncertain
Talarico → haul → filings
Paxton told Fox News’ Bret Baier he had a "three-month fundraising difference" compared to Talarico thanks to the messy primary battle that dragged into May, months after the insurgent progressive toppled Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas.
uncertain
progressive → tell → Crockett
"Talarico had three extra months to raise money and not spend it.
asserted
Talarico → have → it
So he was able to start spending on ads that tried to pivot him from a radical socialist to a moderate Democrat," Paxton said.
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Paxton → start → Democrat
"So he's been running ads for about two months," he continued.
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he → run → months
"My ads have just started.
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ads → start → ?
We had to raise some money.
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We → have → money
But once we're able to highlight the stark differences between a socialist and a constitutional Republican, he will not win Texas."
asserted
he → highlight → Texas
