Democrat James Talarico raised about $238,600 from individual donors across four Woodlands-area ZIP codes, compared with roughly $39,300 for Republican Ken Paxton, according to a Newsweek analysis of Federal Election Commission records first reported by the Houston Chronicle.

The two are competing for the U.S. Senate seat on the Tuesday, Nov. 3, ballot. Libertarian Ted Brown is also in the race.

The fundraising gap is striking in a community that leans Republican. The four Woodlands ZIP codes sit entirely within state House District 15, where President Donald Trump won 62.8 percent of the vote in 2024. Montgomery County as a whole gave Trump about 72 percent.

In ZIP code 77381, at the center of The Woodlands, Talarico pulled in $98,103 to Paxton's $19,247, according to Newsweek. In 77386, covering Spring and Imperial Oaks, the split was $68,076 to $4,476.

The local numbers reflect a broader pattern. Across 11 ZIP codes in four metro areas that fall inside Trump-won state House districts, Talarico raised about $1.3 million from individual donors, compared with roughly $422,000 for Paxton, Newsweek reported.

Through June 30, Talarico's campaign reported raising $68.6 million total and had $21.5 million in the bank. Paxton's two committees reported $9.2 million raised and $1.76 million on hand, according to the same analysis.

Talarico, a Round Rock native and state representative since 2018, serves on the Public Education, Juvenile Justice and Family Issues, and Calendars committees, according to his Texas House biography. A former public school teacher and type 1 diabetic, he passed legislation capping insulin copays in Texas at $25 a month and allowing the state to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada.

On his campaign website, Talarico says he wants to lower property taxes, fix the power grid and restore abortion rights. Paxton, the current attorney general, has not agreed to a debate. As Houston Public Media reported, Talarico challenged Paxton on the issue after returning to the campaign trail from a bout with the flu.

Public polling shows a tight race. A ReconMR poll of likely voters found Talarico at 48 percent and Paxton at 44 percent, according to Fox 7 Austin. A Marist University survey of 1,139 registered voters in September found Talarico ahead 50 percent to 44 percent, Newsweek reported.

Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 30. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.