A political action committee backed by Elon Musk has committed nearly $2.4 million in independent expenditures to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and oppose state Rep. James Talarico (D-District 50) in the state’s competitive U.S. Senate race, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
The spending, reported by the America PAC through September 9, includes $1,875,338.15 directed against Talarico and $512,287.53 in support of Paxton. The funds were not directly contributed to either campaign, as the PAC operates as an independent expenditure-only committee, certifying that spending was not coordinated with candidates, campaigns, or political parties.
Nearly $1.9 million of the expenditures targeted Talarico, with the largest share—$1,364,645.67—allocated to digital media buys through IMGE LLC, disseminated on September 6. An additional $61,000 was directed to Full Reach Media Group LLC for materials published on September 3. Phone messaging accounted for $775,385.01, split evenly between supporting Paxton ($387,692.53) and opposing Talarico ($387,692.48), with calls disseminated on September 8. The remaining $247,595 was allocated to printing services provided by Storytellers Group LLC.
GOP Super PACs Launch Multi-Million-Dollar Offensive
The America PAC’s spending is part of a broader Republican effort to bolster Paxton’s campaign against Talarico. The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), announced plans to launch a dedicated Texas PAC with an initial eight-figure ad buy beginning September 10, continuing through Election Day. The group stated the ads would present Paxton in a positive light and contrast the candidates’ positions. Thune framed the race as critical to maintaining Republican control of the Senate, stating in a release that "extreme candidates like James Talarico are becoming the norm" as the Democratic Party moves further left.
A source familiar with the effort told Fox News Digital that Thune attended a Paxton fundraiser during the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas, emphasizing the party’s unified opposition to Talarico’s candidacy.
Trump’s Rhetoric Fuels Campaign Merchandise Sales
Talarico has leveraged criticism from former President Donald Trump into a campaign fundraising opportunity. Trump, who endorsed Paxton, has repeatedly mocked Talarico, referring to him as "Talafreako" in interviews and Truth Social posts. During a Fox News interview with Laura Ingraham, Trump described Talarico as a "religious fanatic" who "throws up after every time he eats."
Talarico responded by promoting "I’m a Talafreako" t-shirts on his campaign website, calling the nickname the fastest-selling item on his site. He addressed Trump’s remarks during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, which was posted to YouTube but not aired on ABC due to the network’s legal disputes with the former president’s FCC.
Paxton Faces Public Scrutiny Amid Trump’s Mockery
Trump also took aim at Paxton’s appearance during the Dallas convention, stating in a closing address that he had previously commented on Paxton’s attire. Trump said, "I don’t like the way Ken dresses," though he later added, "I also said he looked really sharp in that suit yesterday. I thought it was spiffy." Paxton was visibly present during the remarks and responded with a forced smile.
The exchange followed a two-day convention where Republican leaders sought to energize the party’s base ahead of the midterm elections. The Texas Senate race has emerged as a focal point, with national Republican groups deploying significant financial resources to ensure the seat remains in GOP hands.
Campaign Finance Context
The influx of outside spending reflects the high stakes of the race, which pits Paxton—a controversial figure facing legal challenges—against Talarico, a progressive state legislator seeking to flip the seat. The America PAC’s expenditures bring total reported Republican independent spending in the race to over $12 million, according to filings cited by Yahoo News. The funds are part of a broader strategy to define Talarico as an outlier in Texas’ conservative political landscape, while promoting Paxton’s record as the state’s top law enforcement official.