Texas Democrat James Talarico tells supporters 'you are my slingshot' against Elon Musk's $168 million Senate blitz

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico rallied supporters in Texas on Thursday, casting himself as David facing a Goliath of outside money backed by Elon Musk and Republican leadership. Musk has donated over $150 million to a Senate GOP group supporting Republican Ken Paxton, making this one of the most expensive Senate contests in American history. Talarico's campaign has outpaced Paxton's in direct fundraising, and he is now regarded as a genuine contender rather than a symbolic challenger.

Paxton has faced persistent corruption questions, including an impeachment by his own party, though he was later acquitted.

Should Talarico win, he would become the first Democrat to capture a statewide Texas office in over 30 years.

Talarico frames the race not as left versus right but as the ultra-wealthy against everyone else — a message drawing packed rallies.