Talarico beats Paxton in Texas despite millions in Musk-linked spending

Democrat James Talarico has defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas’s Senate race, despite millions of dollars in outside spending by groups supporting Paxton, in a major upset in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988.

Black Mesa Research Labs’ analysis of federal filings lists $47.3 million in general-election spending by America PAC backing Paxton. The group says Elon Musk provided 74% of the PAC’s receipts. The money was spent independently, not donated directly to Paxton’s campaign.

Musk’s separate $158 million contribution went to the Senate Leadership Fund, which then gave the same amount to Texas PAC, another group supporting Paxton, according to the Associated Press. Black Mesa’s analysis says all of Texas PAC’s $158 million in receipts came from two transfers from the fund, each made one day after an identical gift from Musk.

The distinction matters: US rules allow super PACs to raise and spend unlimited sums independently, but they cannot give directly to candidates or coordinate with their campaigns. The figures capture reported spending and funding routes, not a direct $205 million donation by Musk to Paxton.

Talarico said in his victory speech that “all the money in the world is no match for the people of Texas”. Musk joked on X that his “election-interfering space lasers” had not worked this time.

The Senate contest was one of the biggest tests of Republican strength in Texas in decades. Musk, who has made the state a base for several of his companies, also used X to criticise Talarico during the campaign. The result leaves a striking contrast between the scale of spending by pro-Paxton groups and the outcome at the ballot box.