That’s how much has been spent on advertising in the Texas Senate primary, making it the most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history. The surge comes as top Republican contenders Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt battle for their party’s nomination. On the Democratic side, leading candidates Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico have also ramped up fundraising and ad buys, hoping the contentious GOP contest opens a path for a Democratic pickup. About 70 percent of the spending has come from outside groups, highlighting the growing influence of super PACs and the high costs of advertising in the state’s major media markets.
