Donald Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., has made its most significant expenditure of the current election cycle, allocating $10 million for an ad campaign to bolster Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race. This move comes after considerable anticipation and calls from GOP figures for Trump's political operation to financially back Paxton, who is facing a strong challenge from Democrat James Talarico.
The commitment from MAGA Inc. follows months of Republican anxiety over Paxton's fundraising struggles. He reported just under $2 million in his campaign account going into July, significantly trailing Talarico's $22 million. Talarico has already outspent Paxton substantially on television ads, putting pressure on Republicans to inject more funds into the race.
The Texas Senate contest is proving to be unexpectedly competitive, with polls indicating a narrow lead for Talarico. This has prompted Republicans, including figures like Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana and Senator John Thune, to publicly urge Trump and his super PAC to provide substantial financial support. The cost of advertising in Texas is high, with estimates suggesting it can cost $5 million to $8 million per week to run a statewide ad campaign due to its 20 media markets.
While this $10 million ad buy from MAGA Inc. is a significant boost, it remains to be seen if it will be sufficient. Some Republican officials have suggested Paxton could benefit from $100 million or even $200 million from Trump's PAC to secure the win. Other conservative PACs have also started contributing, with $22 million in television ads purchased recently, but the overall consensus is that tens of millions more are needed to compete effectively in the expensive Texas media landscape.
