Austin Democrat Jake Talarico has raised an unprecedented $27 million in the first quarter of 2026, setting a new record for Senate candidate fundraising in any state during an election year's initial quarter. This substantial sum significantly outpaces other prominent Democrats in competitive races and Texas's previous Democratic Senate nominees, bolstering hopes for a statewide victory in a traditionally Republican state.
raised $27 million in the first three months of 2026 in his bid to flip Texas, according to his campaign. The Austin Democrat’s haul is the largest-ever sum for a Senate candidate — in any state — in the first quarter of an election year.
He outraised other Democrats this cycle who posted impressive hauls of their own in competitive Senate races where Democrats have better odds, including Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, and more than doubled the totals of former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola.Talarico significantly outpaced Texas’ last two Democratic Senate candidates to win their primaries outright — both strong fundraisers. Colin Allred raised over $9.5 million in the first quarter of 2024, and Beto O’Rourke brought in $6.7 million in 2018 — though both ultimately lost. The massive haul will bolster Democrats’ hopes about making Talarico the first Democrat to win a statewide race in Texas in over three decades — an uphill battle in any cycle and an expensive proposition in a massive state with 20 media markets. “Winning in Texas will require unprecedented resources,” said Seth Krasne, Talarico’s campaign manager. “This grassroots fundraising haul puts our movement in a strong position to spread our message in some of the most expensive media markets in the country. But we can’t take our foot off of the gas.” Talarico spent much of the first quarter in a tight primary against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, contributing to his massive haul. But his campaign says he raised over $10 million since the March 3 primary. The $27 million quarter brings Talarico’s total fundraising for the race, since he got in last September, to over $40 million. Talarico’s campaign said that over the course of the race, he has received donations from over 540,000 individual contributors, and from 246 of Texas’ 254 counties, according to his campaign. Talarico also continued his streak of outraising his potential Republican opponents. Sen. John Cornyn, who is locked in a bitter runoff battle with Attorney General Ken Paxton, raised nearly $9 million in the first quarter across his fundraising apparatus, including $3.4 million in the weeks after the primary, his campaign announced. Paxton has not yet reported his first quarter total, but has trailed Cornyn in every quarter this cycle. Texas’ record for U.S. Senate fundraising is O’Rourke’s 2018 third quarter, when he posted a $38 million haul.Cardboard Kids Pop Up Across San Antonio with a Powerful MessageRep. Tony Gonzales resigns amid sexual misconduct allegationsLocal pastor accused of sexual abuseHow rising gas prices are impacting a San Antonio bakery run by mother, daughterWATCH: Motorcycle in flames as two people injured after crash near downtownSevere Weather Possible Late Saturday, Again Sunday EveningA New Beginning: Comal County Crisis Center Prepares to Welcome ClientsCould you ditch your car? KSAT’s Sarah Acosta took a VIA bus to work to find outSan Antonio Book Festival to return with over 100 authors on SaturdayWet Weekend Ahead for South TexasSouth Alamo Project Nearing CompletionCommunity members offer opinions to possible César E. Chávez Blvd. name changeSan Antonio woman convicted in headstone scam sentenced to 6 years in prisonUSAA customer sues company after his vehicle was stranded in Mexico for months▶West Side neighborhood motorcycle crash ends in flames; residents urge need for speed bumpsInvestigation underway after fatal South Side shooting, SAPD saysTradición y color: más de 70 años celebrando Fiesta en San AntonioWATCH: Waymo car goes wrong way in Alamo Heights school zone, concerns parentsFiesta parades: How to choose where to sit?Erik Cantu sentenced to 2 years in prison following probation violationsComplaints mount against Cibolo animal services officer after dog’s deathWhat we know about the shooting at Hill Country College Prep HSNo active threat on campus at Hill Country Prep High School in Bulverde
Texas Senate Race Jake Talarico Fundraising Record Democratic Candidate Election 2026
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