Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is heading to Los Angeles on Sept. 10 for a high-dollar fundraiser. Hosted by “Lost” co-creator Damon Lindelof and his wife, Heidi, the event occurs in Brentwood. Tickets for the evening start at $500 and can cost as much as $13,500. This marks Talarico’s second major Hollywood fundraiser in just a few months. A previous gathering in June at producer Peter Chernin’s home was called a “glitzy Dem fundraiser” by Page Six Hollywood. Fox News reported these details about the upcoming event.
While Talarico heads west, his opponent Ken Paxton will be in Dallas. The Texas Attorney General is set to join the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention. President Donald Trump and other Republicans will gather there on the same night. A Democratic House fundraiser in New York is set to feature former President Barack Obama as the headliner. These events place prominent Democrats on the coasts while Republicans meet in Texas. The New York Times confirmed the Obama event details.
Donors from outside Texas accounted for roughly 50% of the funds raised by Talarico. This figure comes from first-quarter campaign finance records reviewed by Fox News Digital. The candidate is taking heat from Republicans for bringing in so much cash from other states. Fox News Digital received a statement from RNC spokesperson Zach Kraft indicating Talarico prefers California over his own state. According to reports, he must rent a pickup truck and don a fake cowboy hat to appear as a “real” Texan. Talarico serves as a progressive lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.
Republicans have criticized his record of controversial statements. These include calling God “nonbinary” and saying that there are six sexes. He further asserted that cutting down on meat intake is “existential” for combating climate change. Even with the attacks, Talarico and Paxton remain locked in a tight race. Talarico held a 3-point lead over Paxton at 51% to 48% in a July Fox News poll. That lead was within the survey’s margin of sampling error. Senator John Kennedy, R-La., said that “money is an issue” in the race.
Talarico has not responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. His campaign was reached out to, but no answer came by the time of publication. The fundraising trip happens as the general election season heats up across the country. Numerous Democrats think Texas might finally turn blue this year. However, the reliance on out-of-state cash remains a point of contention for local voters. The contrast between the Hollywood party and the Texas rally is stark.
Paxton has told Fox News Digital that Talarico’s lead is not surprising. He points to the candidate’s head start in the general election. This advantage came after a messy primary runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. The political landscape in Texas is shifting, but the money trail is clear. Talarico’s team says they are working to win the seat. The question remains whether the Hollywood money can close the gap with local support. The next major test comes in November.
