Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has faced backlash for accepting significant donations from billionaire Reid Hoffman, a man with connections to Jeffrey Epstein, despite his campaign’s criticism of billionaire influence in politics.
Last week, it was revealed that James Talarico, the Democrat running for Texas’ 2026 Senate election, received $11.5 million from Reid Hoffman. Hoffman donated $10 million in June alone—approximately 80 percent of Lone Star Rising’s funds during the second quarter. He also contributed the maximum legal amount of $7,000 to Georgia Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff.
Hoffman, widely known as co-founder of LinkedIn, met Epstein in July 2013 and visited his island in 2014. That same year, he sent ice cream to Epstein with a note stating it was for him and “the girls.” The following year, Hoffman attended a dinner with Epstein alongside prominent figures including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel. Hoffman has acknowledged that he “helped to repair [Epstein’s] reputation and perpetuate injustice.”
A Republican operative told media: “Democrats like Jon Ossoff and James Talarico vilify corporate billionaires in one breath and accept their cash in the next… They’re fueling the same ‘money in politics’ gravy train they claim to oppose.”
The donations contrast with Talarico’s campaign rhetoric about the “Epstein Class” having “no place in Texas,” undermining his credibility on campaign finance reform and billionaire influence.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Talarico received over $27 million during the first quarter of 2024—marking one of the largest financial hauls by a Senate candidate in this election cycle. This amount far exceeds the $6.8 million given to Beto O’Rourke during his 2018 campaign.
