MAGA Inc. files $10 million in Texas Senate ads, split against Talarico and for Paxton

The filing, then the ads

What happened

On September 5, MAGA Inc.'s treasurer, Charles Gantt, signed a 48-hour notice to the Federal Election Commission. A 48-hour notice is the form a political committee files within two days of paying for, or committing to, spending like this in the run-up to an election. This one lists two lines of $5 million each to Del Ray Media LLC of Alexandria, Virginia, purpose "PLACED MEDIA: CONNECTED TV & DIGITAL ADVERTISING": one to oppose Talarico, one to support Paxton. Schedule E dates the disbursement or obligation September 4 and the public distribution September 5.¹²

• On September 5, MAGA Inc.'s treasurer, Charles Gantt, signed a 48-hour notice to the Federal Election Commission. A 48-hour notice is the form a political committee files within two days of paying for, or committing to, spending like this in the run-up to an election. This one lists two lines of $5 million each to Del Ray Media LLC of Alexandria, Virginia, purpose "PLACED MEDIA: CONNECTED TV & DIGITAL ADVERTISING": one to oppose Talarico, one to support Paxton. Schedule E dates the disbursement or obligation September 4 and the public distribution September 5.¹²

The filing was the public step, not the first one. On September 1 the Associated Press reported that MAGA Inc. "has been testing ads for Paxton, including one criticizing Talarico over rural hospital policy, but the ad has yet to air," and that "it might run online or on digital channels instead of on television." Four days later the notice described the buy as connected TV and digital, and one of the two spots is the rural-hospital ad.⁹⁶²

• The filing was the public step, not the first one. On September 1 the Associated Press reported that MAGA Inc. "has been testing ads for Paxton, including one criticizing Talarico over rural hospital policy, but the ad has yet to air," and that "it might run online or on digital channels instead of on television." Four days later the notice described the buy as connected TV and digital, and one of the two spots is the rural-hospital ad.⁹⁶²

An independent expenditure is money spent on a message that names a candidate and asks voters to elect or defeat that person, without giving the money to the campaign. MAGA Inc. is a hybrid political committee with a non-contribution account: one account limited by contribution caps and one unlimited account used for independent spending. The $10 million here is that kind of spending, not a check to Paxton's campaign committee. On the same notice Gantt certified, "under penalty of perjury," that the spending was "not made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or authorized committee."⁵⁰¹²

• An independent expenditure is money spent on a message that names a candidate and asks voters to elect or defeat that person, without giving the money to the campaign. MAGA Inc. is a hybrid political committee with a non-contribution account: one account limited by contribution caps and one unlimited account used for independent spending. The $10 million here is that kind of spending, not a check to Paxton's campaign committee. On the same notice Gantt certified, "under penalty of perjury," that the spending was "not made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or authorized committee."⁵⁰¹²

Both spots are about taxes, and both end with the same line: "MAGA Inc. is responsible for the content of this advertising." The anti-Talarico spot says he "supported a trillion dollar tax hike, higher property taxes, and higher taxes on social security." The pro-Paxton spot says he "voted to make it easier to increase property taxes, supported a $4 trillion tax hike," and "supports a radical health care plan that could close rural hospitals." Both promise a Paxton plan: doubling the child tax credit, write-offs for medical expenses, and a $50,000 deduction for first-time homes. The words of both are below, and each claim is checked against the record further down.¹³¹⁴

• Both spots are about taxes, and both end with the same line: "MAGA Inc. is responsible for the content of this advertising." The anti-Talarico spot says he "supported a trillion dollar tax hike, higher property taxes, and higher taxes on social security." The pro-Paxton spot says he "voted to make it easier to increase property taxes, supported a $4 trillion tax hike," and "supports a radical health care plan that could close rural hospitals." Both promise a Paxton plan: doubling the child tax credit, write-offs for medical expenses, and a $50,000 deduction for first-time homes. The words of both are below, and each claim is checked against the record further down.¹³¹⁴

Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesman for MAGA Inc., wrote the same day: "High Tax Talarico wants to take money out of Texans' pockets." Paxton posted that Talarico "has a record of raising taxes on working families" and thanked Trump for his support. JT Ennis, a Talarico campaign spokesperson, said in a statement carried by the Associated Press that "Billionaire-backed dark money groups are lying about James Talarico" and that Talarico "was proud to vote for the largest property tax cut in Texas history." The Texas Tribune added that Talarico's "economic plan includes raising taxes on corporations and billionaires and expanding tax credits for parents and lower-income workers."^7867885

• Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesman for MAGA Inc., wrote the same day: "High Tax Talarico wants to take money out of Texans' pockets." Paxton posted that Talarico "has a record of raising taxes on working families" and thanked Trump for his support. JT Ennis, a Talarico campaign spokesperson, said in a statement carried by the Associated Press that "Billionaire-backed dark money groups are lying about James Talarico" and that Talarico "was proud to vote for the largest property tax cut in Texas history." The Texas Tribune added that Talarico's "economic plan includes raising taxes on corporations and billionaires and expanding tax credits for parents and lower-income workers."^7867885

Here is the anti-Talarico spot in full, as the transcription heard it; the surname is spelled the way the recognizer wrote it.¹³

• Here is the anti-Talarico spot in full, as the transcription heard it; the surname is spelled the way the recognizer wrote it.¹³

The pro-Paxton spot makes the same tax charge and adds the health care line.¹⁴

• The pro-Paxton spot makes the same tax charge and adds the health care line.¹⁴

The plan the spots credit to Paxton is his own July 31 video, which lists the deductions.⁴⁰

• The plan the spots credit to Paxton is his own July 31 video, which lists the deductions.⁴⁰

A later line of the same video, not contiguous with that card, says "It doubles the child tax credit and makes the Trump accounts permanent."⁴⁰

• A later line of the same video, not contiguous with that card, says "It doubles the child tax credit and makes the Trump accounts permanent."⁴⁰

The race and the money already on the books

Where this sits

Ken Paxton is the Texas attorney general. "Trump’s endorsement helped Paxton to defeat the incumbent, Sen. John Cornyn, in a May primary runoff election," the Associated Press wrote; that runoff drew $25.3 million in outside spending against Paxton from Texans for a Conservative Majority. James Talarico is "a 37-year-old state representative" and the Democratic nominee. Libertarian Ted Brown is also on the ballot.⁷⁸⁵⁹⁶¹

• Ken Paxton is the Texas attorney general. "Trump’s endorsement helped Paxton to defeat the incumbent, Sen. John Cornyn, in a May primary runoff election," the Associated Press wrote; that runoff drew $25.3 million in outside spending against Paxton from Texans for a Conservative Majority. James Talarico is "a 37-year-old state representative" and the Democratic nominee. Libertarian Ted Brown is also on the ballot.⁷⁸⁵⁹⁶¹

Ten million dollars is a large ad buy and a small share of the buyer. MAGA Inc. reported $403 million in cash on July 31, so this is 2.48 percent of it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune "estimated advertising costs $8 million a week" in Texas, which makes $10 million about 1.25 weeks of ads. Trump told reporters the day before the filing, "I think I have close to a billion dollars in the Super PAC"; the FEC record for MAGA Inc. itself shows the $403 million, and the rest, if it exists, sits in nonprofits that do not report to the FEC.⁴⁹⁷⁹⁸

• Ten million dollars is a large ad buy and a small share of the buyer. MAGA Inc. reported $403 million in cash on July 31, so this is 2.48 percent of it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune "estimated advertising costs $8 million a week" in Texas, which makes $10 million about 1.25 weeks of ads. Trump told reporters the day before the filing, "I think I have close to a billion dollars in the Super PAC"; the FEC record for MAGA Inc. itself shows the $403 million, and the rest, if it exists, sits in nonprofits that do not report to the FEC.⁴⁹⁷⁹⁸

The Associated Press called the filing Trump's "first major midterm money move." The Texas Tribune wrote that the $10 million "is MAGA Inc.'s first expenditure of the general election." That is MAGA Inc.'s first general-election filing, not the first outside money in this race. 17 other committees had already reported $16.3 million in general-election independent expenditures before the notice, led by Lone Star Liberty PAC; most of the rest are small.⁷⁸⁸⁵⁵⁹

• The Associated Press called the filing Trump's "first major midterm money move." The Texas Tribune wrote that the $10 million "is MAGA Inc.'s first expenditure of the general election." That is MAGA Inc.'s first general-election filing, not the first outside money in this race. 17 other committees had already reported $16.3 million in general-election independent expenditures before the notice, led by Lone Star Liberty PAC; most of the rest are small.⁷⁸⁸⁵⁵⁹

The same UT poll asked how Texans rate Paxton's job as attorney general: 33 percent approve and 47 percent disapprove statewide, while 61 percent of Republicans approve, the figure CBS reported. NBC News wrote that Paxton "was impeached by the Republican-led state House in 2023 on allegations of bribery and abuse of public trust, though he was later acquitted by the state Senate after a trial," and quoted Thune saying Texas is "not one that we can lose." USA Today wrote that Cook Political Report and Fox rate the seat a toss-up. Put together: a nominee his own party rates well and the state as a whole does not, inside the margin in two of the three August polls, in a seat both parties treat as winnable.⁵⁸⁷⁹⁸⁶

• The same UT poll asked how Texans rate Paxton's job as attorney general: 33 percent approve and 47 percent disapprove statewide, while 61 percent of Republicans approve, the figure CBS reported. NBC News wrote that Paxton "was impeached by the Republican-led state House in 2023 on allegations of bribery and abuse of public trust, though he was later acquitted by the state Senate after a trial," and quoted Thune saying Texas is "not one that we can lose." USA Today wrote that Cook Political Report and Fox rate the seat a toss-up. Put together: a nominee his own party rates well and the state as a whole does not, inside the margin in two of the three August polls, in a seat both parties treat as winnable.⁵⁸⁷⁹⁸⁶

What Trump has said about the money is larger than what the FEC can see. The White House pool for September 4 recorded him saying, when asked when the super PAC would spend on the midterms, "We already did. I think I have close to a billion dollars in the Super PAC," and the Associated Press quoted him the same day: "I'm going to spend whatever amount of money necessary to try and help us," and "This is my money." The Tribune wrote that he "told reporters Friday that he had close to $1 billion under his control between various PACs and nonprofits, and that he expected to spend $400 million to $500 million on the midterms"; CBS quoted him on August 21 saying "about $850 million" and named "Securing American Greatness, a nonprofit with ties to Mr. Trump's super PAC." A nonprofit does not report its cash to the FEC, so the billion can be checked only against the committee's own $403 million.^8788581

• What Trump has said about the money is larger than what the FEC can see. The White House pool for September 4 recorded him saying, when asked when the super PAC would spend on the midterms, "We already did. I think I have close to a billion dollars in the Super PAC," and the Associated Press quoted him the same day: "I'm going to spend whatever amount of money necessary to try and help us," and "This is my money." The Tribune wrote that he "told reporters Friday that he had close to $1 billion under his control between various PACs and nonprofits, and that he expected to spend $400 million to $500 million on the midterms"; CBS quoted him on August 21 saying "about $850 million" and named "Securing American Greatness, a nonprofit with ties to Mr. Trump's super PAC." A nonprofit does not report its cash to the FEC, so the billion can be checked only against the committee's own $403 million.^8788581

The Tribune's other figures come from AdImpact, an ad-tracking firm, and they do not match the FEC file. The Tribune wrote that Lone Star Liberty PAC had spent "$18.9 million on the general election thus far" and America PAC "$1.4 million against Talarico"; the FEC general-election rows for Lone Star Liberty add to $9.5 million. AdImpact counts ads as booked; the FEC file holds what committees have reported. The two cannot be reconciled from the records this story cites. The Tribune also wrote that "Democrats have spent $41.7 million, nearly all from Talarico, to Republicans' $24.3 million," that Senate Leadership Fund "has not put any money into Texas in the general election," that Sen. John Kennedy said he was "hoping that the president's going to spend $100 or $200 million in Texas," and that Sen. Ted Cruz estimated the race could reach $200 million.⁸⁵⁵⁹

• The Tribune's other figures come from AdImpact, an ad-tracking firm, and they do not match the FEC file. The Tribune wrote that Lone Star Liberty PAC had spent "$18.9 million on the general election thus far" and America PAC "$1.4 million against Talarico"; the FEC general-election rows for Lone Star Liberty add to $9.5 million. AdImpact counts ads as booked; the FEC file holds what committees have reported. The two cannot be reconciled from the records this story cites. The Tribune also wrote that "Democrats have spent $41.7 million, nearly all from Talarico, to Republicans' $24.3 million," that Senate Leadership Fund "has not put any money into Texas in the general election," that Sen. John Kennedy said he was "hoping that the president's going to spend $100 or $200 million in Texas," and that Sen. Ted Cruz estimated the race could reach $200 million.⁸⁵⁵⁹

Viewers, donors, and the calendar

Who feels it

Connected TV is television watched through an internet app rather than a broadcast or cable signal. The filing says the ads run there and online; it does not say in which markets or to whom.²

• Connected TV is television watched through an internet app rather than a broadcast or cable signal. The filing says the ads run there and online; it does not say in which markets or to whom.²

1. September 30: the candidates' books close for their next quarterly reports to the FEC, due October 15. That is the first record of money raised after this buy.⁶⁰
   • 60FEC 2026 quarterly filer dates10/15/2026
2. October 14: books close for the pre-election report, due October 22.⁶⁰
   • 60FEC 2026 quarterly filer dates10/15/2026
3. October 19: early voting in person begins.⁵³
   • 53Texas Secretary of State 2026 datesFirst day of early voting by personal appearance for November 3 general election.
4. November 3: election day, 59 days after the ads went public.⁵³
   • 53Texas Secretary of State 2026 datesGeneral election day.

People had already paid into this race through the campaigns and through other independent-expenditure committees. More than half of Talarico's individual money, 56 percent, came in unitemized gifts: the committee did not have to list those donors on the report because the gifts did not exceed $200 in the year. For Paxton that share is 19.6 percent. Unitemized does not mean the committee lacks the name.^51526559

• People had already paid into this race through the campaigns and through other independent-expenditure committees. More than half of Talarico's individual money, 56 percent, came in unitemized gifts: the committee did not have to list those donors on the report because the gifts did not exceed $200 in the year. For Paxton that share is 19.6 percent. Unitemized does not mean the committee lacks the name.^51526559

Checked against the notice

What the coverage got right, and what it got wrong

Nine publications are in the records. They rest on fewer dispatches: the Associated Press, CNBC, and PBS NewsHour are one wire, and PBS carries "Josh Boak, Associated Press." Four called independent spending a gift to the campaign.²⁸³

• Nine publications are in the records. They rest on fewer dispatches: the Associated Press, CNBC, and PBS NewsHour are one wire, and PBS carries "Josh Boak, Associated Press." Four called independent spending a gift to the campaign.²⁸³

The filing, then the ads

Claim checked against the record

The ads make six claims a viewer can check. Both spots put source slates on screen. The tax spot cites Punchbowl News, the Tax Foundation, Thomson Reuters, the Texas House Journal of May 25, 2019, and the Texas Tribune of June 12, 2019. The health spot cites Talarico for Texas, Navigant, and the Hoover Institution, and for the $4 trillion line cites Punchbowl and a Tax Foundation page of June 6, 2025.²⁹³³³⁴

• The ads make six claims a viewer can check. Both spots put source slates on screen. The tax spot cites Punchbowl News, the Tax Foundation, Thomson Reuters, the Texas House Journal of May 25, 2019, and the Texas Tribune of June 12, 2019. The health spot cites Talarico for Texas, Navigant, and the Hoover Institution, and for the $4 trillion line cites Punchbowl and a Tax Foundation page of June 6, 2025.²⁹³³³⁴

After Saturday

What happened next

On September 6 The Hill reported Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, telling CNN's Dana Bash she welcomed the attention on Texas after the buy. Talarico's own post that Saturday, "This is not capitalism; this is crony capitalism," does not name the ads, MAGA Inc., Paxton, or Trump; the campaign's response on the record is the Ennis statement.⁸⁴⁹

• On September 6 The Hill reported Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, telling CNN's Dana Bash she welcomed the attention on Texas after the buy. Talarico's own post that Saturday, "This is not capitalism; this is crony capitalism," does not name the ads, MAGA Inc., Paxton, or Trump; the campaign's response on the record is the Ennis statement.⁸⁴⁹

On September 8 the Talarico campaign posted a one-minute YouTube ad in which David Maxwell, a former Paxton aide who says Paxton ended his career, makes accusations about Paxton's conduct in office. A New York Times story on the ad the same day could not be opened.⁴³

• On September 8 the Talarico campaign posted a one-minute YouTube ad in which David Maxwell, a former Paxton aide who says Paxton ended his career, makes accusations about Paxton's conduct in office. A New York Times story on the ad the same day could not be opened.⁴³

Watching: MAGA Inc.'s next 24-hour or 48-hour notices, the October 15 quarterly reports, the October 22 pre-election reports, and early voting from October 19.⁶⁰

• Watching: MAGA Inc.'s next 24-hour or 48-hour notices, the October 15 quarterly reports, the October 22 pre-election reports, and early voting from October 19.⁶⁰

Open questions

What we do not know yet

• The Punchbowl News item of September 9, 2025 and the Thomson Reuters item of November 3, 2025 that the tax-spot slate cites. One attempt each did not yield a usable page.²⁹
  • 29MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 024: Talarico higher taxes source slatePUNCHBOWL NEWS, 9/9/25
• Where the ads run. The notice names no markets, stations, or audiences.²
  • 2FEC Schedule E, file 2010907PLACED MEDIA: CONNECTED TV & DIGITAL ADVERTISING
• Why the Tribune's AdImpact figure for Lone Star Liberty PAC ($18.9 million) is about twice the FEC's reported rows. One counts bookings, the other filings; only the filings are in this story's records.⁸⁵
  • 85Texas Tribune on the MAGA Inc. ads$1.4 million against Talarico

Sources

The records

Everything this page rests on, numbered where the story cites it. We keep a dated copy of each one.

Primary documents

1. 1FEC Form 24 cover for MAGA INC. file 2010907 · Federal Election Commission, September 5 · the 48-hour notice header and Gantt signature
2. 2FEC Schedule E, file 2010907 · Federal Election Commission, September 5 · every $5 million line, the vendor, the purpose, and the $10 million total
3. 3MAGA Inc. Paxton tax ad post · MAGA Inc., September 5 · the pro-Paxton caption
4. 4MAGA Inc. Talarico tax ad post · MAGA Inc., September 5 · the anti-Talarico caption
5. 5Alex Pfeiffer statement · September 5 · the High Tax Talarico statement
6. 6Ken Paxton post on the buy · September 5 · Paxton's written response
7. 7FEC Schedule E, file 2009583 · Federal Election Commission, August 24 · the Graham South Carolina runoff independent expenditures
8. 8September 4 White House pool report · American Presidency Project · Trump saying the super PAC already spent, and claiming close to a billion dollars
9. 9James Talarico Saturday post · September 5 · crony capitalism, posted the day of the ads
10. 10FEC Schedule E, file 1952643 · Federal Election Commission, March 11 · the Georgia special-election text-message expenditures totaling $17,900.88
11. 11FEC file 1952643 CSV · Federal Election Commission, March 11 · the Special-General election code on the March notice
12. 12Form 24 certification, file 2010907 · Federal Election Commission, September 5 · the not-in-cooperation certification on the Texas notice
13. 13MAGA Inc. Talarico ad, transcript · MAGA Inc., September 5 · the words of the anti-Talarico spot
14. 14MAGA Inc. Paxton ad, transcript · MAGA Inc., September 5 · the words of the pro-Paxton spot
15. 15House Journal, SB 2 passage vote · Texas House, May 1, 2019 · Talarico voted no on SB 2 at passage
16. 16House Journal, SB 2 conference report vote · Texas House, May 25, 2019 · Talarico voted no on the final SB 2 text
17. 17Talarico tax page · campaign site, saved September 8 · what Talarico says he would do on taxes
18. 18Talarico health care page · campaign site, saved September 8 · the health plan the ad calls radical
19. 19Talarico rural page · campaign site, saved September 8 · his stated position on rural hospitals
20. 20Paxton issues page · campaign site, saved September 8 · what Paxton's own site says on taxes
21. 21MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 001: Tired of Paying More in Taxes? · on-screen claim or source slate
22. 22MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 003: Affordable Living Proposal slate · on-screen claim or source slate
23. 23MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 007: Paxton make living more affordable · on-screen claim or source slate
24. 24MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 008: Paxton's plan slate · on-screen claim or source slate
25. 25MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 010: Double child tax credit slate · on-screen claim or source slate
26. 26MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 013: First-time homebuyer slate · on-screen claim or source slate
27. 27MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 018: Trillion-dollar tax hike slate · on-screen claim or source slate
28. 28MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 020: Higher property taxes slate · on-screen claim or source slate
29. 29MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 024: Talarico higher taxes source slate · on-screen claim or source slate
30. 30MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 026: Paxton lower taxes disclaimer · on-screen claim or source slate
31. 31MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 028: Clear choice slate · on-screen claim or source slate
32. 32MAGA Inc. health spot, frame 002: Property tax vote slate · on-screen claim or source slate
33. 33MAGA Inc. health spot, frame 007: $4 trillion tax hike slate · on-screen claim or source slate
34. 34MAGA Inc. health spot, frame 012: Radical healthcare 30 hospitals · on-screen claim or source slate
35. 35MAGA Inc. health spot, frame 014: Cost thousands in more taxes · on-screen claim or source slate
36. 36MAGA Inc. health spot, frame 017: Tribune economic plan quote · on-screen claim or source slate
37. 37MAGA Inc. health spot, frame 022: Real plan CBS Texas · on-screen claim or source slate
38. 38MAGA Inc. health spot, frame 026: Tax cutter the better choice · on-screen claim or source slate
39. 39MAGA Inc. health spot, frame 029: Tax cutter for Senate · on-screen claim or source slate
40. 40Paxton Texas Promise Agenda video transcript · Paxton in his own voice on the plan
41. 41Texas House Journal, 88th 2nd called, day 6: SB 2 · the 2023 yes vote
42. 42Texas House Journal, 89th regular, day 69: SB 4 · the 2025 yes vote
43. 43Talarico campaign Maxwell ad, transcript · what happened next on September 8
44. 44MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 012: medical expenses · on-screen slate
45. 45MAGA Inc. tax spot, frame 021: Social Security · on-screen slate
46. 46Navigant, Rural Hospital Sustainability: public option impacts (August 2019) · the rural-hospital claim check: Texas row of the study's severest scenario
47. 47Hoover Institution, The Budget and Tax Effects of a Federal Public Option After COVID-19 (October 20, 2020) · the tax claim check: the paper's 2050 financing scenarios and its sponsor line
48. 48Texas Public Opinion Research, August 2026 tracking poll · the third August poll

Official data

49. 49MAGA INC. August monthly report · saved September 8, covers July 1 to 31 · cash on hand at the end of July, July disbursements, and the Pfeiffer Public Affairs payee
50. 50MAGA INC. committee overview · Federal Election Commission · the hybrid-PAC label
51. 51Talarico FEC candidate summary · through June 30, 2026 · receipts, disbursements, and unitemized individual totals
52. 52Paxton FEC candidate summary · through June 30, 2026 · receipts, disbursements, unitemized share, and June 30 cash on hand
53. 53Texas Secretary of State 2026 dates · Texas Secretary of State · November 3 as general election day and October 19 early voting
54. 54November 3 election-law calendar · Texas Secretary of State · the August 28 nominee-certification deadline
55. 55Independent candidate filings · Texas Secretary of State · Jade Simmons U.S. Senate filing marked rejected
56. 56FEC election dates · Federal Election Commission · Tuesday, November 3, 2026 as the federal general election
57. 57UT/Texas Politics Project August poll · published August 24 · the 42-39-3 trial ballot, dates, and sample
58. 58August poll crosstabs · Texas Politics Project · Paxton job rating, trial-ballot crosstabs, and YouGov methodology
59. 59FEC 2026 independent-expenditure bulk file · saved September 8 · general-election totals by committee in the Texas Senate race, Del Ray vendor history, and the Cornyn-runoff outside money
60. 60FEC 2026 quarterly filer dates · Federal Election Commission · October 15 quarterly due date and October 22 pre-general due date
61. 61Texas SOS Candidate Bio Portal, U.S. Senate · captured September 8 in a browser · Talarico, Paxton, and Brown as November candidates, and Simmons rejected as independent and accepted as write-in
62. 62SB 2 (2019) bill history · Texas Legislature Online · the bill the ad refers to, its caption and vote dates
63. 63Governor Abbott on the 2023 property tax cut · August 9, 2023 · the Ennis line about the largest cut
64. 64FEC independent expenditure help: coordinated · what the certification asserts
65. 65FEC recording receipts: itemizing over $200 · what unitemized means
66. 66TPPF/Overton August 2026 likely-voter poll · fielded August 24-26, 2026 · the second August poll
67. 67Texas Politics Project Senate poll tracker · the range of public polls
68. 68MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 1930418 · largest line 17 receipts
69. 69TPPF/Overton August 2026 toplines · the 44.0 / 43.4 likely-voter figures
70. 70MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 1943509 · line 17 receipts summed for the donor table
71. 71MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 1949722 · line 17 receipts summed for the donor table
72. 72MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 1955690 · line 17 receipts summed for the donor table
73. 73MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 1970306 · line 17 receipts summed for the donor table
74. 74MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 1978142 · line 17 receipts summed for the donor table
75. 75MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 1986089 · line 17 receipts summed for the donor table
76. 76MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 2000587 · line 17 receipts summed for the donor table
77. 77MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 2009096 · line 17 receipts summed for the donor table

Coverage checked

78. 78Associated Press on the Texas ads · published September 5 · Ennis statement, Friday Trump quotes, the nominees, the ads' tax claims, and the television wording
79. 79NBC News on the Texas ads · published September 5 · the July 31 cash line, the 2023 impeachment, and Thune on Texas ad costs
80. 80Fox News on the Texas ads · published September 5 · the Tribune fundraising figures, checked against the July 20 tracker
81. 81CBS News on the Texas ads · published September 5 · donation wording, Del Ray Media Inc., the 61 percent GOP rating, the impeachment line, the $850 million quote, and the Graham donation wording
82. 82CNBC on the Texas ads · published September 5 · the AP-wire Saturday filing line
83. 83PBS NewsHour on the Texas ads · published September 5 · the AP-wire Saturday filing line
84. 84The Hill on Hinojosa and the $10 million · published September 6 · the gift-to-the-campaign wording and Hinojosa on CNN
85. 85Texas Tribune on the MAGA Inc. ads · published September 5 · AdImpact totals, the ad transcript, connected-TV explanation, and Trump counting PACs and nonprofits
86. 86USA Today on the MAGA Inc. ads · published September 5 · the donated-to-the-campaign wording, the toss-up rating, and the $400 to $500 million plan
87. 87Texas Tribune July 20 fundraising tracker · published July 20 · the $72.0 million and $16.8 million cumulative fundraising figures Fox attributed to the Tribune
88. 88Texas Tribune on Paxton tax plan · published July 31, 2026 · the published plan figures
89. 89CBS Texas on Paxton plan · published August 4, 2026 · the CBS Texas slate the ads cite
90. 90Texas Tribune 2019 House roll call on SB 2 · published May 1, 2019 · the 2019 House vote the ads describe
91. 91Reuters via Yahoo on MAGA Inc. $10 million · published September 5 · the mislabeled gift-to-campaign headline
92. 92Tax Foundation on extending the 2017 tax law · dated July 4, 2025 · what the 7/4/25 slate cites
93. 93Tax Foundation on the House-passed 2025 tax bill · dated June 6, 2025 · what the 6/6/25 slate cites
94. 94Texas Tribune: Abbott signs SB 2 · published June 12, 2019 · the Tribune 6/12/19 slate
95. 95AHA summary of Navigant rural-hospital public-option study · August 7, 2019 · what Navigant 8/19 says
96. 96AP, Republicans still waiting for Trump to open his campaign wallet (September 1, 2026) · what preceded the filing

How we check.

Sources

• The Texas Tribune · July 20, 2026 · Tracking the money raised and spent in the U.S. Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton
• Federal Election Commission · September 8, 2026 · FEC 2026 independent expenditure bulk file
• Texas House of Representatives · July 13, 2023 · Texas House Journal, 88th 2nd called, day 6: SB 2
• The Texas Politics Project · August 24, 2026 · UT/Texas Politics Project August 2026 poll writeup
• Texas Secretary of State · September 8, 2026 · Texas Secretary of State 2026 candidate dates
• Federal Election Commission · July 14, 2026 · Ken Paxton candidate financial summary through June 30, 2026
• Federal Election Commission · August 20, 2026 · MAGA INC. August monthly report covering July 2026
• Federal Election Commission · March 11, 2026 · Schedule E independent expenditures, FEC file 1952643
• Federal Election Commission · September 5, 2026 · Schedule E independent expenditures, FEC file 2010907
• Texas House of Representatives · May 21, 2025 · Texas House Journal, 89th regular, day 69: SB 4
• Federal Election Commission · July 15, 2026 · James Talarico candidate financial summary through June 30, 2026
• Overton Insights · August 26, 2026 · TPPF/Overton August 2026 toplines
• Federal Election Commission · December 22, 2025 · MAGA Inc. Form 3X Schedule A, file 1930418