James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Texas, has taken aim at Elon Musk, warning that the tech mogul is trying to buy political influence and declaring: “Texas is not for sale.” Talarico held a campaign rally on Friday at the University of Texas at Austin, packing an auditorium at his alma mater with hundreds of students and other supporters, who cheered, whooped and waved campaign signs. The Presbyterian seminarian’s insurgent run against Texas attorney general Ken Paxton – a staunch ally of Donald Trump – has become one of the most closely watched races in next month’s midterm elections to decide control of Congress. Democrats are seeking their first statewide win since 1994.
Talarico, 37, struck his usual upbeat message on Friday but also pulled no punches in denouncing Paxton – who was impeached by his own party over corruption accusations and had a very public divorce – as the most corrupt politician in the state’s history. This election is about whether you want a senator who is for Texas or for himself. This election is about whether you want senator who serves you or serves their billionaire mega donors.” Paxton, he continued, has the ultimate mega donor.
We just found out that the richest man in the world is almost single-handedly bankrolling this effort to install Ken Paxton in the US Senate and stop the movement that we are building in our state. If you’ve gotten lies in your mailbox, that was Elon. If you received a text message saying scary things about me with scary black and white photos, that was Elon too.” Speaking against the backdrop of a giant Texan state flag and 40 young supporters holding “Talarico” signs, the Democrat said that, where his movement is funded by 1.3 million individuals, Paxton is funded by “one dude”.
In a state where data centres have become an incendiary issue, Talarico said: “Elon Musk wants our land. He wants our tax dollars. He wants his very own personal United States senator.
He is trying to buy Texas. But on November 3rd, we are going to deliver a crystal clear message to the world’s first trillionaire: Texas is not for sale.” Musk, who lives in Texas and has relocated SpaceX, Tesla, X and other businesses there, has contributed $158m to the Senate Leadership Fund, which in turn transferred the same amount to Texas PAC, a Republican super PAC supporting Paxton, according to federal filings. Talarico has offset the outside-spending disadvantage with grassroots fundraising.
His campaign says it raised $64m from July through September, more than triple Paxton’s total, with 97% of donations under $100 each. Talarico told the crowd that super PACs and “billionaire mega-donors” are spending $200m in the most expensive Senate race in US history to defeat his grassroots campaign. Talarico fell ill with the flu at the end of September and was not seen in public for nine days.
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