Trump’s MAGA Inc. PAC Injects $10 Million into Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate Bid

POLICY WIRE — Washington, DC — President Trump has launched his first significant financial intervention of the midterm season, directing $10 million to support Texas Senate hopeful Ken Paxton.

The funds, sourced from the MAGA Inc. super PAC, are intended to bolster the current Texas attorney general as he battles Democrat James Talarico in a contest that has become unexpectedly close.

According to a Saturday filing with the Federal Election Commission, the $10 million is split evenly. Five million dollars is earmarked for attack ads targeting Talarico, while the remaining five million will fund positive messaging for Paxton.

Both portions of the contribution were routed through Del Ray Media Inc., a political media firm, to be utilized for digital and television campaigns.

Despite holding a massive war chest of $400 million, MAGA Inc. had not issued any major contributions this midterm cycle until now.

Meanwhile, a nonprofit linked to the super PAC, Securing American Greatness, recently debuted its first national advertisement. However, the ad focuses on the president rather than local candidates, sparking concern among some politicians that funds are being used to promote Trump despite his absence from the ballot.

Speaking on Aug. 21 before departing for South Carolina on Air Force One, Mr. Trump claimed to have raised approximately $850 million.

I’ll be spending a lot of that money for — and my own money — but I’ll be spending a lot of that money for candidates that I think are good, Republican candidates, Mr. Trump said.

Prior to the Paxton injection, the PAC’s only other contribution was $827,000 given to Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina.

Until Graham’s campaign, MAGA Inc. had spent a mere $18,000 on 2026 midterm races. The group spent roughly $1.7 million last year and had accumulated $401 million by the end of the second quarter.

Sen. Graham is currently seeking a full term after assuming the seat previously held by her brother, Lindsey Graham, who passed away in July.

During a South Carolina rally for Graham on Aug. 21, the president urged supporters to “Pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot” and emphasized the importance of voting.

While Paxton remains a favorite among Republicans—boasting a 61% approval rating in August per University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Politics Project—his tenure has been marked by controversy.

In 2023, Paxton survived an impeachment trial involving charges of dereliction of duty, disregard of official duties, and bribery.

The trial also revealed an extramarital affair, which led his wife, a state senator, to seek a divorce.

Despite Texas not electing a Democratic senator in 33 years, Talarico remains neck-and-neck with Paxton in most polls.

Talarico has recently become a target of the president’s rhetoric, including a new derogatory nickname.

“The name happens to be Tala-freako because he is one of the worst candidates I have ever seen,” Mr. Trump said.

Talarico has leaned into the insult by selling T-shirts featuring the nickname.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)