Elon Musk has put at least $168 million through outside groups supporting Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, according to CNN. That's one man's money going into one Senate race. [1]

I think James Talarico has Musk and Republican leaders scared shitless. A Democrat who can win Texas by talking about faith, working people, and the power billionaires have could teach the rest of his party a hell of a lot.

Talarico is a Presbyterian seminarian who challenges Christian nationalism and connects his faith to how we treat immigrants, LGBTQ people, and the poor. Loving your neighbor includes people who live differently than you do. That's a Christianity I can understand. [2]

He's also running on lowering costs for working families and taking on the influence of billionaires and corporations. He's talking to people about their faith and how they're going to pay the bills. They already care about both. [3] [4]

I live in Eastern Washington. I care about people who vote Republican. They're my neighbors, and I want their lives to get better too. Nobody should have to give up their faith or their pride in where they come from to question whether the people they've been voting for are doing a damn thing for them.

If Talarico can reach enough of those voters in Texas, other Democrats are going to want to know how. Candidates might try it in states their party has written off. Voters might give somebody a chance they would have dismissed before. Republicans could have a lot more races to worry about.

Paxton's weaknesses and frustration with Republicans may be doing plenty of the work here. But if Talarico wins, Democrats would be fools to dismiss what he's showing them.

By October 30, AdImpact counted $573.2 million in advertising spending and reservations in the Texas Senate race, including the primaries and runoff. The firm calls it the most expensive nonpresidential race on record. More than half a billion dollars, just in ads aired or booked. [5]

Through October 14, Talarico's campaign had reported about $146.3 million in receipts. Paxton's authorized committees had reported about $22.3 million. Talarico had raised more than six times as much. [6] [7]

Then look at the outside groups. AdImpact's October 30 accounting put their general-election advertising support for Paxton at $251.7 million, compared with $30.6 million for Talarico. That's a separate pot of money, and it overwhelmingly favors Paxton. [5]

Musk's $168 million went through outside groups. Super PACs can take unlimited contributions for independent spending, subject to rules against coordinating that spending with campaigns. That's how one person can pour this much money into getting somebody elected. [1] [8]

His politics may explain plenty of it. On October 20, Musk wrote, “The fate of Texas and America is at stake,” and urged people to vote for Paxton. He's attacked Talarico over transgender issues. [9]

He has been making those arguments for years. In 2024, Musk cited California's school gender-identity notification law when announcing that SpaceX and X would move their headquarters to Texas. He may believe every word of what he's selling. [10]

There are financial reasons to care, too. Talarico wants higher taxes on billionaires' income and capital gains, and restrictions on the political spending that gives them so much influence. Musk has a personal stake in both. [3] [4]

His companies have billions at stake in government decisions. A single Space Force launch contract awarded to SpaceX in April 2025 had an anticipated value of about $5.9 billion. Starship's Texas operations require federal licensing and environmental review. A government sympathetic to his businesses could be worth a great deal to him. [11] [12]

Paxton's office has already taken up two fights involving X: an investigation of Media Matters' reporting and another into an alleged advertising boycott. His office cited potential fraud and antitrust violations. Musk could want that ally in the Senate. [13] [14]

Democrats also want to investigate Musk's work at DOGE and his dealings with the government. Responding to those plans on October 21, he wrote, “Live by the sword, die by the sword,” and warned that he would go after the people behind the investigations. [15]

His biggest September donations came before that post, but avoiding congressional scrutiny could be another reason to keep Republicans in charge. How much should one person be able to spend helping choose the people who can demand answers from him? [1]

Republicans hold 53 Senate seats. Democrats and the independents who caucus with them hold 47, so they need a net gain of four. Texas could be one. Senate control affects legislation, confirmations, and committee investigations. A Democratic House could still conduct its own investigations if Republicans kept the Senate. [16] [17]

Musk is also helping pay for an expensive Republican problem. Senate Leadership Fund backed John Cornyn in the primary and had estimated that defending the seat with Paxton could cost $150 million to $200 million. Its leadership later said the Texas funding let it support Paxton without taking money from other races. [18]

Look ahead to 2028. Texas has 40 electoral votes, as many as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada combined. If Democrats can make Texas competitive beyond this Senate race, Republicans would have to pour money and time into a state they've long counted on. [19]

Talarico has billionaire help too. LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman gave $10 million in June to a super PAC supporting him, on top of earlier gifts. His campaign says it can't control those contributions and points to his promise to ban super PACs. [20]

Fine. Hold him to it. I want to know who those donors are, what they want, and whether he keeps his promises once he's in office. Liking the candidate doesn't buy him a pass.

Musk and Hoffman are entitled to their politics. So are the people busting their asses to pay the bills.

How much more say should either billionaire get than the rest of us?

EDW•