James Talarico raised TWENTY-SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS in campaign donations so far!

[senseandsensibility]

An unheard-of amount. Even more impressive? Almost all of it came from small donors. He does not accept Pac money.

And although the only thing Jake Sherman on MSNOW could say was it was an "obscene" amount (he repeated that at least three times in a disgusted voice), it's clear that Dem enthusiasm is off the charts for this race.

And Jake, here's a pro tip for you: it would be obscene if Talarico was raising that amount from secret/special interests. He's not. What's "obscene" about average Americans contributing small amounts in huge numbers? Besides, of course, that your R sources don't like it.

[PeaceWave]

1. Wow. I guess Talarico really was the right candidate to give us a real shot in Texas.

[EdmondDantes_]

2. Not necessarily.

Amy McGrath raised one of the highest amounts ever at the time for a Senate race and lost her race handily. There's a history of heavy donations to Democratic candidates for office in red states that gets people's hopes up and then doesn't pan out. Beto O'Rourke, Jamie Harrison, and Sara Gideon come to mind as well.

[senseandsensibility]

3. I hear ya

but they showed a chart with previous records. None came close. Talarico has raised more than four times at this point than O'Rourke, for example.

[EdmondDantes_]

5. What is that increase proportionate to the overall increase of money in politics

I honestly don't know so maybe it's outsized even proportionally to races today. It would also be really interesting to see how much is coming from within the state compared to outside as compared with similar races in traditionally red states. I'm sure some political science person is working on that or has, but alas I have been out of the academic world on that front for a long time.

[pinkstarburst]

12. We need money from all over

And anyone who lives somewhere that doesn't have a big race this year that can spare a little bit to donate to somewhere that we could REALLY use a senate seat if we could flip one or retain one (Georgia, Texas, etc), those small donations really add up. Every single democratic senator benefits us ALL.

And I absolutely think that Talarico is the right person for this moment and can win this.

I also think Jasmine is amazing and wish we could have had them both.

[fujiyamasan]

6. Yes, we have less 'sexy' races Dem incumbents also need to win

To have any real shot of taking the senate. The 2020 cycle was crazy; lots of money raised for opponents of much hated incumbents like McConnell, Collins, and Graham.

Aside from smith, the other two are from bright red states so it was always an uphill battle.
Meanwhile there were a few senate seats Dems took by a slimmer margin, which should have been more comfortable.

My hope is we see more money going toward NC and AK. Both are very winnable. I think Ossoff already has raised a lot so he may be ok.

[senseandsensibility]

4. Money isn't everything

but it's a good measure of voter enthusiasm!

[efhmc]

7. Where is it being spent? Not in my central Texas rw town? And I am sure there are many here who would vote for him.

[senseandsensibility]

8. Good question

It's still early, but that kind of money should make it easy to blanket the airwaves, (TV and radio) as well as mailers, online ads, you name it. Hope you start hearing from the campaign soon.

[EdmondDantes_]

9. Probably waiting until after the Republican primary

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. This makes me smile

Texas is going to turn blue

[senseandsensibility]

11. Nothing wrong with optimism

There are a lot of forces out there trying to depress our enthusiasm and turnout at the polls. We can resist that.

[pinkstarburst]

13. This makes me very happy to hear. I need to make another donation to him

and also to Gina Hinojosa.