Texas State Rep. James Talarico raised $30 million between April and June in his campaign for the U.S. Senate, vastly outpacing his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton. However, despite his fundraising success, many Texas voters remain skeptical that the Democratic candidate will be able to defeat the Republican.
According to the Daily Kos, Talarico raised more than three times the amount of money Paxton brought in during the same period. The Republican raised $9 million during the second quarter of 2026.
Talarico has reportedly raised more than $70 million from over 1.5 million donations so far, after breaking fundraising records in the first quarter of 2026 by bringing in $27 million. Even more notably, Talarico has said he does not accept PAC donations, with most contributions totaling $100 or less.
Texas Reacts To James Talarico’s Chances to Become a U.S. Senator
Despite Talarico’s fundraising advantage, some people remain skeptical that he will win a U.S. Senate seat in 2026. As one user on Reddit’s r/Texas put it: “The problem is never that Dems can’t raise money. It’s that they are incapable of turning that money into votes.”
Someone else said: “How many times have Democrats out-raised the Republican [and] still lost? Just make sure you vote and get everybody else out with half a brain to vote.” Others pointed out that “Beto out-raised Cruz nearly 3-1. The fundraising doesn’t matter because, despite the overwhelming support on Reddit, their policies are not popular in Texas.”
Another user expressed similar skepticism, saying, “Oh man, I can’t wait to see him evaporate all that money for nothing.” Others, however, were more optimistic about the campaign: “Money doesn’t matter. Votes do. Stop the MAGA reign by voting them out!”
Despite overall skepticism, some Texans who appeared to support the Democratic candidate remained hopeful about Talarico’s chances, particularly against a controversial opponent like Paxton. One user summarized the views of many supporters: “He should be president. Such an amazing man. I love the way he just speaks truth, and yet people find a way to hate him. Please, everyone, register to vote. Your votes matter.”
