WASHINGTON DC. WA, September 8, 2026 — President Donald Trump’s super PAC is launching a $10 million advertising blitz backing Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton. The ad buy was disclosed in a Federal Election Commission filing Saturday from the Trump-aligned group MAGA Inc. That represents the PAC’s largest single expenditure of the general election. Mandatory financial disclosures for independent political committees are filed with the Federal Election Commission.
How the Money Breaks Down
The filing divides how the money will be spent between two main goals. Ads touting Paxton directly to Texas voters account for $5 million. The other $5 million will fund ads targeting his Democratic opponent, James Talarico.
The payments were processed through a political advertising firm called Del Ray Media LLC. Starting Saturday, ads were running across connected television and digital platforms statewide. MAGA Inc. has more than $400 million cash on hand this cycle, according to people familiar with the matter.
This was the group’s first major investment in a competitive general election race. The move came on the heels of an impasse among some Republican-backed groups over who would pay for ads backing Paxton. MAGA Inc. stepped in directly, resolving the standoff.
Tight Contest in Red States
Texas Attorney General Paxton emerged victorious against Sen. John Cornyn after a primary runoff in May. Now, he is up against Representative Talarico in a nationally watched race. Polling was showing Paxton running behind in a state that Republicans typically win by wider margins. Statewide election results and voter administration records are overseen by the Texas Secretary of State.
Last week Republican strategist Karl Rove cautioned that Paxton was running out of time. He argued the PAC should allocate substantial funds to the race soon. The ad spending came amid growing public pressure from inside Paxton’s own party.
The Texas Senate primary was the most expensive in state history earlier this year. Campaign groups spent over $110 million combined during the primary phase. The general election is expected to exceed that total by November on both sides.
The Messaging Strategy
MAGA Inc. spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer said the attack ads would focus on Talarico’s voting record regarding taxes. He characterized the Democrat as an official who favors higher taxation. The group is scheduling a wider campaign focused on Talarico’s legislative proposals. Statutory legislative records and vote tracking are cataloged by the Texas Legislature Online.
Talarico has campaigned as a moderate voice on affordability and public education funding. His campaign has not yet issued a formal response to the new ad buy. Cornyn is vacating the seat after losing his primary bid.
As a state legislator, Talarico developed a national profile after earning attention for legislative speeches that gained wide distribution. While courting independent and moderate Republican voters, he has leaned into that profile. Democrats consider the seat a challenging but potential pickup opportunity this cycle.
A Larger Spending Pattern
Trump stated that his super PAC would probably spend $400 million to $500 million over the course of the midterms. He indicated he planned to spend the necessary funds to assist Republican candidates nationwide. The Texas race remains the group’s largest single investment so far this cycle.
Prior to this filing, MAGA Inc. had spent smaller amounts on other 2026 midterm contests. Party operatives say more significant ad buys are expected as the November election nears. Nonpartisan reporting on Congressional expenditures is published by the Center for Responsive Politics.
