Donald Trump’s MAGA-aligned super PAC is making a major investment in Texas, committing $10 million to bolster Republican Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign as Democratic underdog James Talarico looks to make a long-shot push to flip the Lone Star State blue.
The cash infusion comes just days after Trump personally promoted Paxton, urging voters to back the scandal-plagued Texas attorney general while also taking an awkward swipe at his appearance.
‘So, Ken Paxton, you might not like the way he dresses. And I say this—it’s so insulting to him, but I might as well say it—you might not like the way he looks,’ Trump told attendees at the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday.
‘You might not love his look. You might not love his television interviews, but he was the best attorney general in the country, perhaps, he was one of the best in the entire country. And that speaks a lot louder than the suit he’s wearing that doesn’t look so great.’
Even with those backhanded comments, the Make America Great Again super PAC is fully behind Paxton, reserving $5 million for television and digital ads attacking Talarico and another $5 million to promote the Republican nominee.
Federal Election Commission (FEC) records indicate that MAGA Inc., the super PAC aligned with Trump, gave the millions to Del Ray Media LLC on Friday.
Del Ray Media LLC is a prominent GOP-aligned media firm. The firm spent around $336 million in the 2024 election cycle to push Republican candidates, according to OpenSecrets.
‘MAGA Inc. is going to ensure Texas knows about Talarico’s radical policies and elects Ken Paxton to the US Senate,’ spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer said in a statement to Politico, calling the Democrat candidate ‘High Tax Talarico.’
But the Democrat’s team was unfazed by the massive contribution, with his press secretary telling the Daily Mail the eyewatering contribution is proof the GOP is ‘scared.’
The MAGA Inc. super PAC has pledged $10million in support for GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton, pictured above with Donald Trump in 2019
Paxton has endured multiple scandals in his political career. He is locked in a bitter battle for senator in Texas with underdog Democrat James Talarico
The large contribution comes just days after Trump mocked Paxton during a speaking event at the White House Rose Garden
‘Billionaire-backed dark money groups are lying about James Talarico because they’re scared of the people-powered movement we’re building to fix this broken, corrupt political system,’ JT Ennis, Talarico’s press secretary, told the Daily Mail.
Paxton thanked the president for his support following the contribution in a post on X on Saturday.
‘While James Talarico has a record of raising taxes on working families, my Protecting the Texas Promise Agenda cuts costs and makes life more affordable. Thank you, President, for your support. Together we will win for Texas and America,’ he wrote.
MAGA Inc. has been relatively quiet during this year’s midterms, with the only other donation this election cycle to Darline Graham’s campaign in South Carolina.
Graham ran to replace her brother, the late Senator Lindsey Graham, in a primary runoff in August. The super PAC contributed $827,000 to boost her campaign, according to FEC records.
Before the contribution to Graham, MAGA Inc. had not spent on any candidates since May, when it donated $560,000 to oust Representative Thomas Massie in favor of Ed Gallrein.
The president told his party at an event earlier this week that he would be traveling throughout the US to support Republicans in 35 tight races.
‘I’m gonna take the final 30 days, maybe a little bit more than that, because it’s all about 35 races,’ he said.
‘I’m gonna go to every one of those 35 places and I’m gonna see if we can get everyone elected.’
MAGA Inc. has spent $5million in television and digital ads supporting Paxton and $5million opposing Talarico (right)
Talarico’s campaign team seemed unfazed by the large contribution, telling the Daily Mail it is evidence the GOP is ‘scared’
On Friday, he vowed to help senators and congressmen who need it, pledging to spend ‘whatever amount of money necessary to try and help us.’
‘This is my money that I control,’ he said.
MAGA Inc. is not Trump’s personal money. It is an ‘unauthorized’ hybrid PAC and does not solicit donations for specific candidates.
The push for Paxton comes as the attorney general is locked in a tight battle in a state that has not had a Democratic senator in over three decades.
Paxton has faced multiple scandals during his political tenure. He was arrested in a federal fraud case, which was later dismissed.
A year later, he won re-election as state Attorney General.
He also faced an impeachment trial over allegations of bribery, dereliction of duty and disregard of official duties in 2023, but was acquitted on all charges.
Talarico’s campaign has also accused Paxton of fraudulently using funds during his election.
Paxton thanked the president his support following the mammoth contribution in a post on X on Saturday
A complaint submitted by Talarico’s campaign manager to the FEC on Wednesday accused Paxton of taking funds from an illegitimate political committee.
Paxton’s team has denied the allegations and the FEC has yet to investigate the claim.
The race is widely viewed as a toss-up. A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll on August 25 showed Talarico leading by three percentage points.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Paxton’s campaign and MAGA Inc. for additional comment.