Democratic Megadonor Poised to Boost Texas Candidate Jasmine Crockett

Crockett faces a spending gap against rival James Talarico, who has a well-funded super PAC supporting him.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:55pm

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A Democratic megadonor is in discussions to fund a super PAC that would boost the campaign of Texas state Rep. Jasmine Crockett in her Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate. Crockett is competing against state Rep. James Talarico, whose campaign and a supporting super PAC have already outspent Crockett by a wide margin ahead of the March 1 primary. The move to embrace super PACs by Democratic candidates is worrying some progressives, who fear their side will always get outgunned in a cash race, though operatives say the "arms race" of big-money groups has left many candidates feeling they have no choice.

Why it matters

The rise of super PACs in Democratic primaries highlights the growing influence of big money in politics, even as the party's base remains suspicious of the role of wealthy donors. The ability of well-funded outside groups to quickly reshape a race is a concern for operatives focused on winning in November, who worry it will make primaries nastier and more difficult to recover from.

The details

Crockett is competing against Talarico in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas, a state Democrats hope to make competitive in November. Talarico and the super PAC supporting him, Lone Star Rising PAC, have already outspent Crockett $4.5 million to $441,000 ahead of the primary. Discussions are underway for a super PAC to be funded by Democratic megadonor Karla Jurvetson to boost Crockett's campaign and help her close that spending gap.

  • Crockett officially announced her Senate run on December 9, 2025.
  • The March 1, 2026 primary is the key date for this race.

The players

Jasmine Crockett

A Texas state representative competing in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.

James Talarico

A Texas state representative and Crockett's rival in the Democratic primary, whose campaign and a supporting super PAC have outspent Crockett so far.

Karla Jurvetson

A Democratic megadonor who is in discussions to fund a super PAC supporting Crockett's campaign.

Lone Star Rising PAC

A super PAC supporting Talarico's campaign that has already spent millions on ads.

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What they’re saying

“If you are running for office, you should do everything you can under the law to try to win. The arms race is only increasing, so it absolutely makes sense to set up a super PAC to win a primary when no one else is coming to help you.”

— Jared Leopold, Democratic strategist

“No one wants to be caught off guard if crypto or AIPAC decides to carpet-bomb your candidate. And the only way to fight that kind of money is with money of your own.”

— Anonymous Democratic operative

What’s next

The March 1, 2026 primary election will be a key test for Crockett and Talarico, with the winner likely to face a competitive general election race in November.

The takeaway

The rise of super PACs in Democratic primaries highlights the growing influence of big money in politics, even as the party's base remains suspicious of the role of wealthy donors. This dynamic is forcing many candidates to embrace super PACs as a way to compete, despite concerns about the impact on primary campaigns and the general election.