Texas holds record-breaking Senate race costing over $573m

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 16:00 · Archive

Texas voters cast ballots in the most expensive US Senate race in history, with over $573m spent on the contest.

Texas voters cast ballots in a US Senate race that has become the most expensive in American history. At least $573.2m was poured into support for both candidates ahead of voting, including funds raised by the campaigns and spending by political action committees known as super PACs.

Elon Musk, whose SpaceX company is based in southern Texas, contributed at least $212m to support Republican candidate Ken Paxton. The Verge reports that Musk spent more than $200m in Texas alone across multiple super PACs. Democrat James Talarico raised $155m to Paxton's $40m in direct campaign funding.

Voters expressed concern about the spending levels. Rico Sanchez, a 40-year-old union sheet metal worker, said the money was 'being spent on the wrong stuff' given affordability issues in the state. Kasey Blanco, a 21-year-old, called it 'scary' and said politicians were 'trying to distort the view'.

According to The Verge, Talarico won by more than 12 points, becoming Texas's first Democratic senator since 1988.

How it is being reported

• Not even $200 million could help Elon Musk buy TexasJames Talarico, the Democratic Texas senator-elect, not only managed to flip the state in yesterday's midterms but prevailed in the most expensive Senate election to date. More than $573 million was spent on advertisements between Talarico, his Republican opponent Ken Paxton, and their aligned PACs. And a big chunk of that money came from just […]The Verge · 4 Nov, 15:33
• Texans vote in most expensive Senate race in US historyPivotal Texas race for US Senate breaks spending records, with $573.2m poured into Paxton and Talarico campaigns.Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 21:41

In this story: Ken Paxton · James Talarico · Elon Musk · Texas · SpaceX

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log