James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, is set to travel to Los Angeles next month for a high-dollar fundraiser featuring Hollywood celebrities as he competes against Republican incumbent Ken Paxton in one of the most closely watched Senate races of 2026.
The event will take place in Brentwood on Sept. 10 and will be hosted by Damon Lindelof, co-creator of the television series "Lost," and his wife Heidi, according to Politico reporting. Tickets for the fundraiser start at $500 and range as high as $13,500 per attendee. This marks Talarico's second Hollywood fundraiser in recent months following a June event at the home of Hollywood producer Peter Chernin that was described by Page Six Hollywood as a "glitzy Dem fundraiser."
Meanwhile, Paxton will gather with other Republicans in Dallas for the Republican National Committee's midterm convention alongside President Donald Trump. The same evening, former President Barack Obama is scheduled to headline a Democratic House fundraiser in New York, according to the New York Times.
What the Left Is Saying
Talarico and his supporters argue that the out-of-state fundraising reflects broad enthusiasm among Democrats nationwide for flipping Texas blue. Campaign finance records from the first quarter showed donors from outside Texas accounted for roughly 50% of Talarico's raised funds. Many Democrats see this as evidence of national interest in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988.
Talarico, who currently serves as a progressive Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, has run on issues including healthcare access, public education funding, and economic opportunity. A Fox News poll from July gave Talarico a 3-point lead over Paxton, 51% to 48%, though that margin fell within the survey's margin of sampling error.
Democrats point to changing demographic trends in Texas and Trump's performance at the presidential level as factors that could benefit their candidate this cycle. The party has invested heavily in ground operations and voter registration efforts across urban areas including Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have seized on Talarico's Hollywood fundraising trips as evidence that he is out of touch with mainstream Texas voters. RNC spokesperson Zach Kraft told Fox News Digital that "it is no surprise that James Talarico feels more comfortable in crazy liberal California than when his handlers force him to wear a fake cowboy hat and rent a pickup truck to pretend to be a 'real' Texan."
Paxton and his allies have also highlighted Talarico's past statements on various policy issues, including comments about gender, diet, and climate that Republicans argue are outside the mainstream of Texas politics. The Republican campaign has sought to characterize Talarico as too liberal for the state.
Trump has pledged active involvement in supporting Paxton's campaign. "I'm going to help Ken Paxton, and I'm going to spend a lot of time in Texas," Trump said, adding that he considers Paxton a "very good candidate." The former president pointed to his history of winning Texas three times at the presidential level as evidence of the state's Republican leanings.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News that "money is an issue" in the race and called on Trump to help Paxton with fundraising, noting that Talarico has been "raising bucketloads of money from California, Hollywood."
What the Numbers Show
According to first-quarter campaign finance records, approximately 50% of James Talarico's campaign funds came from donors outside Texas. The Sept. 10 fundraiser features ticket prices ranging from $500 to $13,500 per person.
The July Fox News poll showed Talarico leading Paxton by 3 percentage points, 51% to 48%, with a margin of sampling error that means the race was essentially tied within the survey's parameters. The same poll indicated that 7% of likely voters remained undecided or supported another candidate.
Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994 and last sent a Democratic senator to Washington in 1988, when Lloyd Bentsen won his fourth term.
Paxton has faced legal challenges during his tenure as attorney general, including an impeachment trial in 2023 on charges of securities fraud, though he was acquitted by the Texas Senate. He is seeking his third six-year Senate term.
The Bottom Line
The competing events scheduled for Sept. 10 highlight the stark geographic and cultural divide in American politics, with Democrats drawing support from coastal donor bases while Republicans rally in traditionally red states like Texas. Talarico's ability to raise significant funds from Hollywood donors could provide financial advantages for advertising and ground operations heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
Republicans have committed substantial resources to defending Paxton's seat, which is considered essential to maintaining their Senate majority. Trump has signaled he will prioritize Texas in his political travel schedule through Election Day.
The race remains competitive according to polling data, with Talarico's narrow lead well within the margin of error. Both campaigns are expected to intensify their attacks as November approaches. Voters should watch for additional polls and campaign finance reports to gauge momentum as the election cycle progresses.