The hotly contested Texas Senate race is setting spending records ahead of Tuesday's primary

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOHN HANNA
Updated 12:17 PM CST, February 25, 2026

Candidates and political groups are pouring money into Texas’ hotly contested U.S. Senate race at a record pace, partly fueled by Democrat James Talarico’s fundraising and allies of Republican Sen. John Cornyn trying to save his long career.

Heading into Tuesday’s primary elections, the cost of advertising and reserved advertising time had topped $110 million, the most ever for a Senate primary, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. The heavy spending in Texas is a preview of the money that is expected to flood this year’s midterm elections across the U.S. with control of Congress at stake.

Talarico faces U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic nomination and on Wednesday launched his final television ad before the primary. It attacks the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, describing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as “secret police.”

Talarico reported raising more than $21 million through last week. Crockett has raised nearly $8.6 million, though the majority was transferred from her House campaign account after she entered the race in December, three months after Talarico.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/senate-texas-talarico-crockett-cornyn-paxton-e41d41fd66a43bf638b69f702e77faa3

[efhmc]

1. I love them both but sadly think the white guy has the better chance of winning. And we need a win.

[Skittles]

2. I wish Jasmine had sat this one out

I like her but WTF, getting in the race that late - not cool.

[LudwigPastorius]

7. I like her too, but...

her jumping into what is almost certainly a quixotic pursuit makes me question her judgement a bit.

[Skittles]

8. yes

it certainly is a character-defining moment

[CapnSteve]

3. Two excellent choices!

I feel like either one could win in Novermber. Blue Tsunami baby! Texans are ready/already blue!

[LudwigPastorius]

6. "sadly..."

Don't be sad. The white guy is a hell of a candidate.

Talarico brings a lot more to the race than just...race.

[Polybius]

4. Are there runoffs in Texas primaries?

Because no one in either primary is getting 50%.

[mdbl]

5. Talarico is probably getting pac money from manipulators trying to keep out Crockett.

[summer_in_TX]

10. Talarico does not accept corporate donations.

Many Texans believe Talarico has a far better chance to win that Senate seat than Crockett would. He has broad appeal and can pick up Independents and disaffected Republicans. Crockett's edginess appeals to Dems but is a turnoff for those Texans who vote independent and the moderate Republicans who won't vote for Ken Paxton or Cornyn.

[mdbl]

11. I am not trying to dis him, but He doesn't have to accept it directly to benefit from their shenanigans

I understand the logic trying to attract moderates but when you put moderates in charge, you lose the reason for replacing the GOP . I would support whomever wins the primary. I just hope when he gets there he can ward off the seductions. I trust Crockett would be better at that.

[summer_in_TX]

12. He looks moderate, his style doesn't make enemies.

BUT i don’t think his policies are moderate, in the sense of MLK’s. Letter from a Birmingham Jail” talks about, the white moderate preachers who said the time is not now and condemned civil rights demonstrators for some of their actions.

What kind of leadership style can bring people together to get things done? I believe it’s Talerico’s approach to forging policy and getting things done.

[Gore1FL]

9. My first choice is Jasmine Crockett

But both Democratic candidates are rock stars.

Rep. Crockett and I share a Kindergarten classroom, though I populated it a decade or two before she did.