Two new ads from Lone Star Liberty PAC, the pro-Paxton super PAC, will air across 18 markets across Texas over the ensuing two weeks. They mark Paxton\u2019s first significant foray on to the airwaves, jolting a campaign that has been clouded by concerns over Talarico\u2019s massive cash advantage and Paxton\u2019s electability.<\/p>\n

One of the new ads will lean into Paxton\u2019s record<\/a> as attorney general, highlighting Texas\u2019 recent agreement with Kellogg’s to remove certain food dyes<\/a> from cereals and the state\u2019s billion-dollar settlements with Meta<\/a> and Google over privacy and safety concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen they come after Texans, he comes after them,\u201d a voiceover says in the ad.<\/p>\n

The other new advertisement<\/a> accuses Talarico of aiding China\u2019s growth at the expense of Texas residents, pointing to the Democrat\u2019s vote against restrictions on Chinese investments, and argues that a Chinese billionaire\u2019s ownership of land near Laughlin Air Force Base presents national security concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cChina\u2019s got Talarico. Texas needs Ken Paxton,\u201d the ad says.<\/p>\n

\u201c[James Talarico] voted to sell Texas land to China, pushed a Texas Green New Deal that would gut our oil and gas jobs, and stood with criminals over cops as the most pro-criminal member of the Texas House,\u201d Lone Star Liberty spokesperson Sam Cooper said. \u201cThat record is too extreme for Texas. Between now and Election Day, voters are going to hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Talarico’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

The multimillion-dollar campaign comes as Republicans look for ways to negate Talarico\u2019s war chest. The latest Federal Election Commission filings from July show Talarico with $21.5 million in the bank, dwarfing Paxton\u2019s $1.8 million in reserves.<\/p>\n

That advantage, along with Paxton\u2019s drawn-out primary runoff that forced him to focus on beating Sen. John Cornyn, has allowed Talarico to dominate the general election messaging battle on television. He\u2019s spent $39 million on TV since the March primary, according to data tracking firm AdImpact.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Talarico launched his first negative ad<\/a> against Paxton, spotlighting his impeachment and labeling him \u201cthe most corrupt politician in Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Republicans have traditionally been favored in Texas statewide elections, Democrats are optimistic Talarico can defeat Paxton. A Texas Public Opinion Research poll<\/a> released Thursday found Talarico leading Paxton \u2014 48 percent to 42 percent.<\/p>\n

Concerns about a potential Paxton defeat have prompted some Republicans to implore<\/a> President Donald Trump to invest some of the gargantuan MAGA Inc. war chest in the Texas race. MAGA Inc. has over $400 million in cash on hand, and Trump publicly pledged to support Paxton financially.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"