Texas Becomes a Battleground: Democratic Candidate Raises Triple the Campaign Funds of Republican Rival

In Texas, long considered a stronghold for the U.S. Republican Party, a Democratic Senate candidate is gaining momentum by raising a massive amount of campaign funds that dwarfs his Republican opponent.

Bloomberg reported on July 9 (local time) that James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for the Texas Senate, raised 30 million dollars (approximately 45.3 billion won) in the second quarter of this year.

This amount is triple the 9 million dollars raised by his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton, during the same period.

While Paxton’s camp assessed his fundraising total positively, noting it as the largest amount raised by a non-incumbent Republican Senate candidate in this midterm election cycle, Talarico set a new record for the highest amount ever raised by a Senate candidate in the second quarter of a midterm election year.

Talarico also explained that 97 percent of the funds raised came in donations of 100 dollars or less, highlighting the broad base of support he has received.

Texas has been considered a "red state" (a state that leans Republican), having not elected a Democrat to a statewide office, such as Senator or Governor, since 1994.

However, with recent polls showing Talarico and Paxton tied in approval ratings and the widening gap in campaign funding, speculation is growing that a Democratic senator could be elected in Texas.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.