Overview
- Early voting opened Monday, Oct. 19, and both campaigns have launched statewide closing tours to drive turnout during the Oct. 19–30 early-vote window.
- Outside groups have poured historic sums into the race with a billionaire donor funding the lion’s share of pro-Paxton TV ads and research firms reporting more than $500 million spent on television alone.
- Democrat James Talarico is running a populist closing message that targets wealthy backers and features celebrity ads and a “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” tour while Republican Ken Paxton is running a faith-and-culture message on a multi-stop “Come and Take It” bus tour and pitching specific tax and affordability proposals.
- The campaign environment has seen viral social-media moments and false claims that were quickly debunked, including a right-wing rumor about Talarico’s hospitalization and a high-profile cross-party vote post by conservative activist Vasant Bhatt that drew widespread attention.
- Polls show the race within the margin of error and political analysts say a Talarico victory would break decades of Republican control in Texas and could shift the balance of power in the narrowly divided U.S. Senate.