In early October 2026, fundraising figures showed James Talarico raising more money out of Highland Park than Ken Paxton, with Republicans adding $50 million to the Texas Senate race. Third-quarter totals put Talarico at $64 million, the most any Senate candidate has raised, against Paxton's $18 million. Republicans outspent Democrats by 25 percent in September but ran only about 9 percent more ads. The most-aired ad by dollars this year is a Texas attack on Talarico over transgender care. Whether a protest vote against Paxton among Cornyn-style suburban Republicans could hand Talarico a six-year term remains contested.