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Senate Majority Leader Begs Trump to Rescue Texas Senate Race as Ken Paxton Falls Behind by Twenty Million
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is publicly asking President Trump to pour funding and resources into Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate campaign, warning that Republican control of the Senate depends on winning the state.
Thune made the appeal during a recent interview, stressing the extreme cost of competing in Texas and the urgent need for White House involvement. The primary is over and Paxton now faces a general election opponent who has outraised him by a staggering margin.
🚨 JUST IN: Senate Majority Leader John Thune is asking President Trump to POUR FUNDING into Ken Paxton's US Senate race, saying everyone is "all in" for Paxton
"I'm hoping the White House will become engaged. Texas is an incredibly expensive state, and obviously one that we… pic.twitter.com/ZjehpHhPHn
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 1, 2026
The funding gap is severe. According to Thune, Democratic opponent James Talarico has raised approximately 21 million dollars. Ken Paxton’s campaign has raised between one and two million.
“I’m hoping the White House will become engaged. Texas is an incredibly expensive state and obviously one that we need that we’ve got a hold if we’re gonna keep the United States Senate we’re gonna keep a majority. Texas, that is we absolutely have to win that race so everybody’s all in for Ken Paxton.”
Thune pointed to the visible disparity in advertising and media presence. “Tellurico is everywhere I mean you go on YouTube you go anywhere you’re gonna see a lot of Tellurico,” he observed.
The Majority Leader confirmed he will personally campaign in Texas next week during the midterm convention, and he emphasized that the entire Republican Senate leadership is treating the race as critical.
Texas is one of the most expensive media markets in the nation. Statewide campaigns routinely burn through tens of millions of dollars on television, digital, and ground operations. A twenty-to-one funding disadvantage at this stage is nearly insurmountable without outside help.
Thune’s public plea signals that Senate leadership views the Texas seat as vulnerable despite the state’s republican lean. Losing Texas would severely damage GOP chances of holding the majority.
The call for Trump to engage is significant. The former president remains the most powerful fundraiser and mobilizer in Republican politics. His endorsement and financial backing can shift a race overnight.
Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, won a contentious Republican primary and is a staunch Trump ally. He has built his political brand on fighting federal overreach and defending conservative values in court. But campaign infrastructure and media saturation require resources Paxton’s campaign does not currently have.
Talarico, the Democratic nominee, has capitalized on early fundraising and built a media presence across the state. His ads are running on every major platform. Paxton’s relative silence on the airwaves reflects the financial reality.
Thune’s remarks make clear that Senate Republicans are not taking Texas for granted. They are openly acknowledging a funding crisis and asking the White House to act.
The question now is whether Trump will answer the call. His support could close the gap quickly, but the clock is ticking and Talarico has already built momentum.
Republican control of the Senate may hinge on whether Ken Paxton can compete financially in one of the nation’s most expensive political battlegrounds. Thune’s public appeal is a warning: without help, Texas is at risk.