Here’s what Trump decided to do.
President Donald Trump’s political operation is pouring millions of additional dollars into one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 midterm elections, highlighting the growing importance of Texas in the battle for control of Congress.
Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. has committed another $5 million to advertising connected to the Texas Senate contest between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.
The latest spending comes as Republicans work to defend a Senate seat that has become considerably more competitive than many political observers once expected.
And with Election Day rapidly approaching, the Texas contest is becoming a major test of how aggressively Trump and Republican-aligned organizations are willing to spend their massive campaign reserves to maintain GOP control in Washington.
Trump-Linked Group Pours Millions Into Texas
MAGA Inc., the powerful super PAC aligned with Trump, reported millions of dollars in additional independent spending connected to the Texas Senate race.
The money is being used for television and digital advertising as the campaign enters its final stretch.
The latest investment adds to previous spending by Trump-aligned groups aimed at boosting Paxton and challenging Talarico.
Independent expenditures are not direct contributions to a candidate’s campaign. Instead, outside political organizations can spend money independently to support or oppose candidates, provided that spending is not coordinated with the campaign.
The escalating advertising battle demonstrates how important Texas has become to the national fight over control of the U.S. Senate.
Texas Senate Race Suddenly Looks Competitive
For decades, Republicans have generally held the advantage in statewide Texas elections.
But the 2026 Senate contest has attracted national attention as polling has shown Paxton and Talarico running close to one another.
The Cook Political Report moved the race from Lean Republican to Toss Up on August 20, indicating that its analysts now consider the contest highly competitive.
That shift alone has raised the stakes considerably for Republicans.
The seat is currently held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who lost the GOP primary process to Paxton. Paxton went on to defeat Cornyn in the Republican runoff, setting up the general-election showdown with Talarico.
A race once expected to remain safely in Republican hands has therefore become one of the contests both parties are watching closely heading into November.
Paxton Gets Major Financial Reinforcements
Outside Republican organizations have responded by dramatically increasing their financial involvement.
Cook Political Report reported in September that a political action committee connected to the Senate Leadership Fund announced more than $58 million in television advertising supporting Paxton.
That outside support could help offset one of Paxton’s most significant campaign challenges: Talarico entered the later stages of the election cycle with a substantial fundraising operation.
Political campaigns depend heavily on money during the final weeks before an election.
Television advertising, digital advertising, voter outreach, direct mail and campaign organization can become increasingly expensive as Election Day approaches.
That makes outside spending particularly valuable in a competitive statewide race covering a state as large as Texas.
Trump Has A Massive Political War Chest
Trump’s political organization also has substantial resources available.
Federal Election Commission records show MAGA Inc. reported approximately $403.45 million in cash on hand as of July 31, 2026. The organization reported roughly $400.7 million in receipts during the election cycle through that date.
That gives the Trump-aligned group the ability to become involved in additional congressional races as Republicans battle to maintain their influence on Capitol Hill.
The Texas spending could therefore represent only one piece of a much broader midterm strategy.
With control of Congress at stake, both Republicans and Democrats have strong incentives to direct resources toward races where relatively small shifts in voter support could determine the outcome.
Why The Texas Race Matters To Trump
The political stakes extend far beyond Texas.
The outcome of Senate races around the country will help determine which party controls the chamber during the final two years of Trump’s current term.
Congressional control can directly affect a president’s ability to move legislation through Washington.
A Senate controlled by the president’s party can make it easier to advance legislative priorities and confirm presidential nominees. Divided government, by contrast, can lead to substantially more political gridlock and negotiations between the parties.
That makes every competitive Senate seat increasingly important.
Texas has traditionally been considered reliable territory for Republican statewide candidates, which makes the competitiveness of this year’s contest particularly noteworthy.
Republicans Face An Expensive Final Stretch
Money alone, however, does not determine election results.
Campaign advertising can increase candidate visibility and influence which issues dominate political discussion, but turnout, voter enthusiasm, candidate favorability and events in the closing weeks can also play major roles.
Republicans must therefore decide where their campaign money will have the greatest impact.
Texas is now clearly receiving significant attention.
Cook Political Report’s decision to classify the contest as a Toss Up reflects just how much the political environment surrounding the race has changed.
The organization also reported in mid-September that major Republican outside spending was arriving after months of uncertainty about whether national GOP groups would commit enough money to help Paxton compete financially.
Trump’s Midterm Strategy Comes Into Focus
The additional spending offers an early indication of where Trump-aligned organizations see potential danger — and opportunity — on the 2026 electoral map.
MAGA Inc.’s enormous cash reserves give the organization considerable flexibility.
The group could continue investing in Texas while simultaneously entering other competitive Senate and House races around the country.
That means voters should expect campaign spending to intensify as November approaches.
Television screens, mailboxes and online platforms in competitive states are likely to become increasingly crowded with political advertising from candidates, parties and outside organizations.
All Eyes Turn Toward November
Texas has become one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the midterm season.
Paxton is attempting to keep the longtime Republican-held seat in GOP hands, while Talarico is trying to capitalize on an unusually competitive political environment.
Meanwhile, Trump’s political organization is making clear that it is prepared to spend heavily.
With hundreds of millions of dollars still available to MAGA Inc. and control of Congress hanging in the balance, the final weeks of the campaign could bring an even larger wave of political spending.
For Republicans, the challenge is straightforward: protect key Senate seats while competing elsewhere for control of Congress.
For Democrats, Texas represents an opportunity to compete in territory that Republicans have dominated in statewide federal elections for decades.
Whatever happens, the amount of money now flowing into the Lone Star State shows that neither side is treating this Senate race as an afterthought.
The battle for Texas — and potentially the balance of power in Washington — is entering its most important stretch.