James Talarico raises $3 million to fight 'corrupt' Ken Paxton

Attorney General Ken Paxton's win in the Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff has already meant big money for his general election opponent, state Rep. James Talarico.

Talarico, D-Austin, announced Thursday, May 28, that his campaign had raised more than $3 million in the 24 hours following Paxton's victory over incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, marking the largest fundraising day of his campaign.

“Ken Paxton is the 'Most Corrupt Politician in America,' and Texans are uniting behind our campaign to defeat him and the broken, corrupt political system he embodies,” Talarico said in a news release. “In just 24 hours, working people from every corner of Texas have come together to shatter grassroots fundraising records and send a message that Texas deserves better than corrupt Ken Paxton. Together, we’re going to unrig our economy, raise our pay, and drive down the cost of gas, groceries, housing, and healthcare.”

Talarico noted that his fundraising announcement comes on the third anniversary of Paxton's impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives.

"This election will be an indictment of the corruption Ken Paxton represents — a system where billionaire megadonors and puppet politicians rig our economy while working people struggle to make ends meet," Talarico's campaign said in the release. "James is building a movement to end that corruption by banning super PACs and corporate PACs, closing billionaire tax loopholes, and lowering costs for working people."

Paxton and Talarico have both proven that the general election campaign promises to be an ugly one — Paxton spared no time attacking Talarico only moments after declaring victory while Talarico quickly christened Paxton "the most corrupt politician in America." The two will face off in November, where Democrats have their best shot at sending one of their own to the Senate for the first time in more than 30 years.

Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at [email protected].