Bo French, Anti-Muslim Candidate, Wins G.O.P. Runoff for Texas Oil Job

No, Iran and China Are Not 'Winning'

'It's a disaster': Republicans sound alarm as Texas race rips open financial hole

The Texas Senate race has officially been set, between notoriously scandal-plagued state Attorney General Ken Paxton on the Republican side and Presbyterian minister and state legislator James Talarico on the Democratic side.But already, Texas Republicans are sounding off a message of fear, NBC News reported, because of the impending money problems the race will cause for them."Paxton, with Trump’s endorsement, handily defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the runoff. Democrats largely viewed Paxton as the weaker candidate because of his many controversies. But his fundraising struggles are also raising alarm bells among Republicans," said the report. "'Economically, it’s a disaster. Texas is extremely expensive,' said a GOP consultant working on Senate races, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about party resources."Republicans already spent over $100 million in the primary, with much of it going to the unsuccessful attempt to prop up Cornyn — but that's just the beginning, the report said."So far, Paxton’s fundraising has paled in comparison with that of the Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico, who has raised more than $40 million — though he spent most of it in a hotly contested primary. But Talarico is expected to raise millions more; he pulled in $600,000 in just two hours following Paxton’s win, according to Talarico’s campaign. The haul was first reported by Politico," said the report. "Paxton has raised $7.6 million, and his campaign had $2.3 million left to spend as of May 6."A deeply expensive contest in Texas could further strain resources on the National Republican Senatorial Committee and GOP megadonors, who might otherwise put that funding toward more obvious tossup races like Georgia and Maine."George Seay, one of Cornyn’s longtime friends and donors, declined to comment when NBC News asked him whether he would also donate to boost Paxton," noted the report. "But he said that Paxton as the nominee meant the state was now 'definitely in play' and a tougher climb for Republicans to win. 'Is Paxton going to raise a lot of money? Probably not,' Seay said, though he said that wasn’t necessarily a death knell."

How Does DOJ’s $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund Work?

On today’s Big Take podcast: Understanding the Justice Department’s controversial plan to establish a $1.776 billion legal fund.

Republicans brace for money problems in Texas after Ken Paxton’s win

Ken Paxton has trailed Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in fundraising. Some Republicans say the party will have to spend millions to win the Senate race.

James Talarico Opens Texas Senate Campaign Against Ken Paxton With Houston Rally

Personal attacks and a packed campaign rally set the tone for what is likely to be a rancorous contest for U.S. Senate between James Talarico and Ken Paxton in Texas.

Ex-judges push to look into "anti-weaponization fund" deal

A group of 35 former federal judges asked a court to reopen a legal dispute between President Trump and the government, calling the deal to create a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund" potentially fraudulent.

Unpacking Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund”

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg reporters Chris Strohm and Erik Wasson track the bipartisan backlash to the Justice Department’s $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund which some lawmakers have called a slush fund for Trump loyalists. (Source: Bloomberg)

Ken Paxton to face James Talarico in Texas Senate race

In Texas, the state's Attorney General Ken Paxton ousted four-term Senator John Cornyn, making him the third Republican incumbent to lose this month after failing to earn President Trump's endorsement. Ed O'Keefe spoke with Paxton's Democratic opponent, James Talarico.