Republicans are urging Donald Trump’s political network to increase spending in the Texas Senate race, amid growing concern that Ken Paxton may not be able to withstand a late surge by Democratic nominee James Talarico.
Senior congressional Republicans and party officials have privately pressed the president’s team to commit more money before the final weeks of the campaign. Their concern has intensified as the race has tightened and Democrats have begun investing heavily after months of holding back.
MAGA Inc. and affiliated groups are expected to spend about $45 million on television, digital advertising and direct mail in Texas through 12 October. That is up from an earlier commitment of $20 million, but Trump allies are still assessing whether to provide additional funds before polling day.
One Republican senator described the situation as “a five-alarm fire”, adding: “Can we put it out? I hope so.” A Republican strategist in Texas said there was a “75% chance” the result would be “catastrophic from a GOP Senate majority standpoint”.
The concern is that Texas could become an increasingly costly drain on Republican resources as the party defends vulnerable seats in states including Michigan and New Hampshire, while also seeking to win Democratic-held seats.
Republican spending in the Texas Senate race
The Senate Leadership Fund spent a further $60 million in Texas on Wednesday, taking its total investment in the state to $131 million. With money from MAGA Inc. and other Republican advertising commitments, outside spending intended to support Paxton is on course to exceed $200 million.
Paxton’s own campaign has announced a $20 million advertising purchase, one of the largest single media investments in a Texas Senate contest.
Some Republicans want MAGA Inc. to assume responsibility for Paxton’s advertising in the closing weeks, allowing the Senate Leadership Fund to direct its money towards other battlegrounds. Two people familiar with the matter said that had not happened.
Alex Latcham, executive director of the Senate Leadership Fund, said the group remained committed to Texas and that its dedicated Texas political action committee would not take resources away from other Senate races.
“Senate Leadership Fund’s investment through Texas PAC affirms our commitment to maintaining the Republican majority and defeating Far-Left liberals like James Talarico,” he said.
Republican operatives in Michigan and New Hampshire have argued that some of the money being sent to Texas would be better spent in their states, where polls show close contests. One ally of Republican candidate John E Sununu said: “There are real chances in Michigan and New Hampshire.”
Trump acknowledged the stakes at a rally in Oklahoma on Thursday, saying: “We’re worried about Michigan. We’re worried about Texas. We’re worried about a few states.” He is due to hold another rally in Texas, in San Antonio, next Wednesday.
The president’s team has sought to reassure Republican senators. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles told them this week that sufficient money would be available for competitive races during the final stretch, according to two people familiar with the meeting.
Paxton has also complicated the Republican effort with remarks that have unsettled party officials. In leaked audio, he was heard telling donors that “everybody’s numbers dropped” after Trump’s Republican convention in Dallas last month.
The comments have raised questions over whether MAGA Inc. will continue spending once its current advertising bookings expire on 12 October. One Republican senator said: “There seems to be very little strategy there. Sometimes, I think [Paxton] wants to lose.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Trump said he had not spoken to Paxton about the remarks, but later told a Texas crowd: “Ken Paxton was at my side more than anybody, and I have to always remember that because he can be a pain in the ass sometimes. I’ll be honest.”
Senator Ted Cruz said the contest had become close because Democrats had outspent Republicans for several months. “I am glad now that we are seeing money invested in communicating with the voters,” he said.
Most public polling over the past two months has shown Talarico narrowly ahead, although an internal poll released by Paxton’s campaign on Tuesday put him three points ahead, at 48% to 45% among likely voters.
One Texas Republican elected official said: “Unless it’s the worst polling that’s ever been done in political history, all this spend hasn’t changed anything, and I think people have made their mind up.”
