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The news, followed to the money

Every weekday we take one story in the news and trace it through the money: donors, super PACs, votes, lobbying and trades. Every number comes from public filings and links to the page it came from. RSS

Thursday, November 5, 2026 · Texas Senate

The most expensive outside-money fight of 2026 lost

Groups backing Ken Paxton or opposing James Talarico spent $317M in Texas, about 2.6 times the other side. Talarico won anyway. Here is where that money came from, how it travelled, and what it could not do.

$440M

outside spending, one Senate race

6 to 1

outside money against Talarico vs for him

96%

of Talarico's money from individuals

Read the essay · 7 min →