Who is James Talarico? Texas Democrat raised nearly 7 times as much campaign funding as his Republican rival Ken Paxton in midterm polls showdown

As the November 3 US midterm elections draw near, Texas is set to witness a tough battle between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton. For Democrats, winning the US Senate election has been a tough ask for years, as several attempts have repeatedly ended in disappointment.

As far as campaign funding is concerned, Talarico is far ahead in comparison to his Republican rival Paxton. According to Federal Election Comission (FEC) filings, there is a wide gap between the two candidates. The September 30 filing shows that Talarico raised $128,772,835, on the other hand, Paxton received $19,497,809.

According to the filings, Talarico’s campaign had raised more than six and a half times more funding compared to Paxton. Out of the amount raised, the Democrat spent $114.18 million. Meanwhile, Republican Paxton disbursed $14.57 million.


FEC data further showed that Talarico had $14,594,231 cash on hand, which is nearly three times Paxton’s $4,925,105. The figures clearly suggest that Talarico has a significant advantage based solely on the campaign finance.

Talarico raised $64 million in the third quarter of the year (July through September), The Texas Tribune reported, citing the data provided by his campaign. In the same time period, Paxton raised $18 million.

Who is James Talarico

James Talarico is a former public school teacher and education nonprofit leader. He was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2018. On the education front, he earned degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University.

He has served on the Public Education Committee, the House Administration Committee, and as vice chair of the Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee.

He currently represents House District 50. During his time in office, he has passed legislation to establish the first-ever cap on pre-K class sizes in Texas, according to League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). He also ensured that schools are equipped with Narcan to fight teen overdoses.

He worked towards improving the quality and affordability of childcare, reducing prescription drug costs, and giving incarcerated minors the opportunity to graduate with a high school diploma.