Staff Reports
The big news in the Texas Senate fight is simple: a pro‑Ken Paxton super PAC is dropping about $15 million on a statewide ad blitz. Lone Star Liberty PAC plans a short, heavy surge of TV and streaming ads to sell Paxton’s record as Texas Attorney General and to hammer State Representative James Talarico on national‑security and China ties. This is the first major wave aimed at closing a clear advertising gap in the race.
The ad buy and the message
According to reports, the PAC will run two main spots across roughly 18 Texas media markets in a roughly two‑week push. One ad touts Paxton’s actions as attorney general — settlements with big tech and consumer protections — while the other goes on offense, accusing Talarico of positions that would favor Chinese investment and even linking land deals near a military base to security risk. The unofficial tagline floating around reads: “China’s got Talarico. Texas needs Ken Paxton.” Crisp, blunt, and designed to make voters worry about open borders and open markets.
Why outside money had to step in
Here’s the practical part: Talarico has been dominating the airwaves for months and has outspent Paxton by a wide margin on broadcast and streaming ads. Paxton’s campaign has been quieter, and national Senate leadership has been cautious about backing him fully. So a pro‑Paxton super PAC fills the gap. If conservative donors care about holding this seat, they needed to act fast. Lone Star Liberty’s buy is meant to blunt Talarico’s media advantage and give Paxton a fighting chance to set the terms of the race.
Lines from both sides — and the bigger picture
Lone Star Liberty’s operatives are blunt: they call Talarico “pro‑China,” say he pushed a “Green New Deal” that would hurt Texas energy jobs, and accuse him of standing with criminals over cops. Talarico’s team pushes back, accusing Paxton of his own cozying with China during his time as attorney general. Politics is a theater. This one leans into national‑security fear and culture‑war contrast — a classic Republican playbook move, sharpened for a general election where voters care about jobs, safety, and who controls the economy.
This $15 million buy is more than an ad push; it’s a test. Can outside conservative money overcome the media gap and the nerves in Washington? Will Paxton’s message about security and record resonate more than Talarico’s deep ad presence? Expect the next few weeks to show whether this blitz is an opening salvo or a desperate patch job. Either way, donors and voters will be watching — and the rest of the GOP should pay attention, because when party leadership won’t fully back a candidate, someone else will write the check and set the tone.
