Ken Paxton went from trailing by 20 points in the polls to receiving significant campaign contributions.
Posted by The Michael Berry Show, Checked
- Sources
- 3 contradict2 support
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
The Michael Berry ShowSep 15, 2026
The money half of the claim is well supported: by September 2026 Paxton had raised $18 million in Q3, and outside groups had poured in hundreds of millions, including Musk-linked money. The 20-point deficit is contradicted, since polls cited in the sources show Paxton trailing Talarico by only about 1 to 6 points, and no source reports a 20-point gap.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… Period, end of story. It was Trump all day, all time, and you couldn't buy enough advertising for that, so he didn't have to spend money. But when I tell you that what's going on right now is unique, in that they are paxton went from down three touchdowns, or down 20 points, to money pouring in. The beauty for Paxton, the the, I mean, you talk about serving it up to you on a silver platter. I am not exaggerating when I tell you I don't ever recall a candidate like Tallarico, where you could literally not say a word and simply play a spot of him …
The Michael Berry Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. Polling in the sources shows Paxton trailing by only a few points: DDHQ's averages had Talarico nearly 3 points ahead as of early October, and Newsweek lists gaps of 1 to 6 points over the summer and fall. Nothing in the sources supports a 20-point deficit, so the magnitude is grossly overstated.[2][3][4]
Supports. The Hill (Oct 5, 2026) reports Paxton raised $18 million in the third quarter, double his second-quarter haul, and that MAGA Inc. dropped $10 million into the race in early September.[2]
Supports. Reuters (Oct 30, 2026) reports Republicans spent over $300 million on ads supporting Paxton, and that Musk poured nearly $160 million into Texas to boost him, with Politico (Oct 10) noting donors dropping objections and the Senate Leadership Fund adding $60 million.[1][5]
Context. Politico reports polls had 'deteriorated' for Paxton in the weeks before the election, which describes a shift in the race but not a 20-point gap.[5]
Sources
5 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 tier 1, 2 not rated, 1 tier 2
- 1Democrats have long known heartbreak in Texas. Could this finally be their year?reuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Paxton raises $18M in third quarter - The Hillthehill.com · tier 1 · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 3Trump may be Paxton’s best weapon against Talarico despite ...newsweek.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 4New Texas Senate poll shows challenge for GOP in final daysrmb.reuters.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 5'Get in line:' Donors strike new tone about helping Paxton - POLITICOpolitico.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports, context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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