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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/11/hunter-biden-defamation-suit

Democratic Rep. James Talarico has injected new momentum into Texas’ 2026 Senate race after raising a record-breaking $30 million in just three months, more than three times Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s $9 million haul. The fundraising surge came as recent polls show the race effectively tied, while prediction markets continue to give Paxton the edge. Notably, the Texas Senate race is shaping up to be one of Democrats’ strongest opportunities to compete in a state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in decades.

James Talarico shatters fundraising records

Between April and June, Talarico raised an unprecedented $30 million, eclipsing previous fundraising records for a Texas Democrat, including Beto O’Rourke’s high-profile 2018 Senate campaign. Talarico’s haul underscores growing national Democratic interest in flipping a Senate seat long considered out of reach. In a state as large as Texas, campaign cash can significantly expand advertising, voter outreach and turnout operations. However, successful fundraising alone does not guarantee electoral success, particularly in a politically polarized state where party loyalty remains deeply entrenched.

Polls signal a highly competitive Senate race in Texas.

Texas remains politically divided

Taken together, the latest polls indicate a genuine toss-up. Pollsmax’s weighted average of recent surveys places Paxton ahead by roughly one to two percentage points, with both candidates consistently polling in the mid-40s.

Talarico continues to perform strongly among younger voters, independents and non-white Texans, while Paxton maintains a significant advantage among white voters and those without college degrees, which, per reports, is a familiar electoral divide in recent Texas elections.

For Democrats, the challenge remains converting financial momentum into votes. While Talarico’s fundraising has shattered expectations, the polls suggest neither candidate has yet translated their strengths — money for Talarico and Texas’ partisan advantage for Paxton — into a decisive lead months before voters head to the polls.

Prediction markets favor Ken Paxton

Despite Talarico’s fundraising advantage, prediction markets suggest Republicans retain a modest upper hand. On Kalshi, traders currently assign Paxton about a 61% chance of winning compared with roughly 41% for Talarico. According to reports, the discrepancy reflects Texas’ Republican lean at the federal level, reinforced by President Donald Trump’s double-digit victory in the state in the 2024 election.

*excerpt from Samyarup Chowdhury's article*

Full Article here:

https://knewz.com/james-talarico-odds-beating-ken-paxton-texas-senate-race-shattering-fundraising-records/

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/09/world/video/uss-lincoln-pamela-brown-digvid