Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico Fires Back at Elon Musk in Heated Feud

James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, fired back at tech billionaire Elon Musk Wednesday after Musk criticized him on social media. The escalating feud highlights the growing role of money and influence in the Texas Senate race, with Talarico accusing Musk of trying to buy the election.

Talarico Responds to Musk’s Criticism

On Wednesday night, Talarico replied to a tweet Musk posted earlier that day, in which Musk said, “There is something deeply wrong with Talarico.” Talarico’s response was direct and pointed: “There is something deeply wrong with a political system that allows one trillionaire to buy his own personal U.S. Senator.” This exchange underscores the tension between the two as the election nears.

Campaign Speech at University of Houston

Earlier in the day, Talarico addressed supporters at the Hilton University of Houston on the main campus, where he openly called out Musk’s involvement in the race. According to Houston Public Media, Talarico said, “In all likelihood, if you’ve seen an attack ad on your screen, that was Elon. If you’ve gotten lies in your mailbox, that was Elon. If you’ve received a text message saying scary things about me, that was Elon too.”

He accused Musk of wanting to “buy Texas,” saying, “Elon Musk wants our land. He wants our water. He wants our taxpayer dollars. He wants his very own personal United States Senator. He is trying to buy Texas. But on Nov. 3, we are going to send a clear message to the world’s first trillionaire: Texas is not for sale.”

Musk’s Financial Support for Republican Opponent

The feud comes just five days after news surfaced that Musk donated $158 million in September to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC that funneled the money to Texas PAC. Texas PAC supports Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee and Texas attorney general, who is Talarico’s main opponent in the race.

In addition to the $158 million donation, Musk also contributed $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, another group backing Paxton. This financial injection came as polls showed Paxton trailing behind Talarico in the contest.

Fundraising Numbers Show Talarico’s Strong Position

Talarico’s campaign revealed last week that he raised $64 million in the third quarter of the year, marking the largest third-quarter haul ever reported by a Senate candidate, according to his campaign. By comparison, Paxton’s campaign raised $18 million in the same period.

Paxton, who defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary earlier this year, has not yet responded publicly to the feud or Musk’s donations.

The Texas Senate race continues to draw national attention as the Nov. 3 election approaches, with both candidates leveraging significant financial resources and public statements to sway voters in one of the country’s most closely watched contests.