'Texas is not for sale': Democrat James Talarico targets Elon Musk's $150m bankroll of Ken Paxton's Senate bid

Disclosure filings released last week reveal Musk channelled a further $150 million into Republican groups supporting Paxton. Talarico, 37, drew hundreds of cheering students to the Hogg Memorial Auditorium at the University of Texas at Austin on Friday night. 'I have a legislative record; Ken Paxton has a criminal record,' he said. A poll last week placed him four points ahead, at 51 per cent to 47.

Texas governor Greg Abbott fears a Democrat victory would leave Republicans with little hope in 2028.

Paxton faced impeachment at the hands of his own party on corruption grounds.

'Ken Paxton is funded by one dude,' Talarico told University of Houston supporters.