Trump Super PAC's First $10 Million Texas Ad Buy Targets Paxton-Talarico Senate Race
President Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC disclosed a $10 million ad buy to support Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas U.S. Senate race on Saturday, September 5, 2026.[1]
The $10 million is split into two $5 million buys placed through Del Ray Media Inc. in television and digital markets.[1] MAGA Inc. is framing the spots around taxes, branding James Talarico "High Tax Talarico," while the Talarico campaign called MAGA Inc. a "billionaire-backed dark money" group and Trump vowed to "spend whatever amount of money necessary" to help Paxton.[2]
The FEC filing marks MAGA Inc.'s first major general-election spending in 2026, even though the group holds roughly $400 million in cash and had previously given about $827,000 to South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham.[1] Through June 2026, Talarico's campaign reported nearly a $20 million cash-on-hand advantage, and Paxton had earlier upset Sen. John Cornyn in a primary runoff.[3]
An August 2026 Texas Politics Project survey found Paxton at 61 percent approval among Republicans, and current polling shows Paxton and Talarico running neck-and-neck.[1] Public disapproval of President Trump over the economy and the Iran war has been a headwind for many Republican candidates.[2]
Show source details & analysis (4 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- A Federal Election Commission filing released Saturday, September 5, 2026, shows President Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC is directing $10 million to support Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton (Federal Election Commission filing).
- The $10 million is split into two $5 million buys placed through Del Ray Media Inc.—one for negative ads targeting Democrat James Talarico and one for positive spots promoting Ken Paxton on television and digital platforms (two $5 million buys).
- MAGA Inc.'s ad buy is its first major general-election spending of the 2026 midterms, even though the group holds roughly $400 million in cash (MAGA Inc.).
- AP/PBS reporting confirms the expenditure is for television and digital ads and says the spots focus on taxes—portraying Talarico as favoring higher taxes while promoting Paxton's support for tax breaks for first-time homebuyers and families (television and digital ads).
- Through the end of June 2026, James Talarico's campaign had nearly a $20 million cash-on-hand advantage over Paxton's operation; Paxton had earlier defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a primary runoff, and Senate GOP leader John Thune said Republicans would need Trump and his team financially engaged in the expensive Texas race (nearly a $20 million cash-on-hand advantage).
- Political context: public disapproval of President Trump over the economy and the Iran war is a headwind for many Republicans, yet an August 2026 Texas Politics Project survey found Paxton at 61% approval among Republicans and current polling shows Paxton and Talarico running neck-and-neck (Texas Politics Project survey).
- Trump said Friday, 'I'm going to spend whatever amount of money necessary to try and help us,' called MAGA Inc.'s roughly $400 million 'my money' separate from RNC funds, and said he could hold some funds until the 2028 elections (Trump).
- MAGA Inc. spokesman Alex Pfeiffer labeled James Talarico 'High Tax Talarico' and vowed to expose his 'radical policies,' while Talarico campaign spokesman JT Ennis called MAGA Inc. a 'billionaire-backed dark money' group and defended Talarico's record on major property tax cuts and tax relief for working Texans (Alex Pfeiffer).
- Before this Texas buy, MAGA Inc.'s only 2026-cycle donation was roughly $827,000 to South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham's campaign, plus about $18,000 in other midterm spending (roughly $827,000 to South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham's campaign).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
September 05, 2026
8:44 PM
Trump's first major midterm money move: A $10 million Texas Senate ad blitz
New information:
- The Associated Press/PBS piece confirms via a Saturday, September 5, 2026 FEC filing that the $10 million MAGA Inc. expenditure is for television and digital ads in the Texas Senate race.
- The article emphasizes this is MAGA Inc.'s first significant general-election spending in a premier 2026 contest, underscoring the race's perceived competitiveness.
- New political context notes that public disapproval of President Trump over the economy and the Iran war has been a headwind for many Republican candidates.
- The story details the issue focus of the ad campaign, saying the spots highlight taxes and portray James Talarico as broadly favoring higher taxes while claiming Ken Paxton would back tax breaks for first-time homebuyers and families with children.
- Trump is quoted on Friday saying, "I'm going to spend whatever amount of money necessary to try and help us," and stressing that MAGA Inc.'s roughly $400 million is "my money" and "separate" from Republican National Committee funds.
- Trump is also quoted saying he could hold some of the funds until the 2028 elections "if that's what I want," even though he is constitutionally barred from running for a third presidential term.
- Spokesman Alex Pfeiffer of MAGA Inc. is quoted branding Talarico "High Tax Talarico" and vowing to inform Texans about what he calls Talarico's "radical policies" and to elect Ken Paxton.
- Talarico campaign spokesperson JT Ennis is quoted pushing back, calling MAGA Inc. a "billionaire-backed dark money" group and saying Talarico supported the largest property tax cut in Texas history and has consistently voted to cut taxes for working Texans.
- The article notes that the key tax legislation signed by Trump last year both extended many of his 2017 tax breaks and increased budget deficits, contributing to higher interest costs on the national debt, while Trump has also increased tariffs to raise revenue.
8:01 PM
Trump’s MAGA Inc. steers $10 million to boost Ken Paxton for Senate
New information:
- On Saturday, September 5, 2026, MAGA Inc. disclosed in an FEC filing that it is spending $5 million on ads supporting Ken Paxton and $5 million on ads opposing Democrat James Talarico in the Texas U.S. Senate race.
- The article frames the $10 million buy as potentially just the start of further Trump-world spending in Texas during the final two months before Election Day on November 3, 2026.
- Through the end of June 2026, James Talarico’s campaign had nearly a $20 million cash-on-hand advantage over Paxton’s main political operation in the Senate contest.
- Senate GOP leader John Thune said on Fox News earlier in the week that because Texas is an expensive state, Republicans would need Trump and his team to be financially engaged in the race.
- The piece notes that Paxton defeated incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn in a primary runoff earlier in 2026 despite Cornyn’s financial advantage and that Democrats view Paxton as a more vulnerable general-election opponent.
7:29 PM
Trump delivers $10 million to Ken Paxton in first major contribution of midterms
New information:
- On Saturday, September 5, 2026, a Federal Election Commission filing showed President Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC is directing $10 million to support Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
- The $10 million consists of two $5 million buys through Del Ray Media Inc.: one for negative ads against Democrat James Talarico and one for positive ads promoting Ken Paxton on TV and digital platforms.
- CBS reports this is President Trump's first major campaign contribution of the 2026 midterms from MAGA Inc., which has about $400 million in cash.
- The article notes that, prior to this Texas spending, MAGA Inc.'s only 2026 cycle donation was roughly $827,000 to South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham's campaign, plus about $18,000 in other midterm spending.
- The story adds polling context: an August 2026 Texas Politics Project survey found Paxton at 61% approval among Republicans, and current polling shows Paxton and Talarico running neck-and-neck despite Texas not having elected a Democratic senator in 33 years.