James Talarico Campaign Releases New Super Bowl Ad

Thursday, February 05, 2026

U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is buying expensive television real estate to get his message out to voters a week ahead of early voting.

Talarico's campaign spent more than $100,000 to air an ad during Sunday's Super Bowl in the Houston market on KPRC. The campaign confirmed the 30-second ad will run once during the game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

Posted by Corky at 09:46 PM | 11 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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SuperBowl?

Is that coming up soon?

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 09:48 PM | Reply

"Billionaires don't just influence politicians, they own them," says Talarico, a Democrat from Austin."

here's the 30 second ad:

www.youtube.com

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2026-02-05 09:49 PM | Reply

@#2 ... Billionaires don't just influence politicians, they own them," says Talarico, ...

He says as he buys the super-over-priced Superbowl ad.

imo, he blew it.

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 09:55 PM | Reply

Bought with small donations.... how is that blowing it if he and his experts thinks it helps the campaign?

Pretty sure they felt the buy was justified per their expertise, polling, and also the national exposure.

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2026-02-05 10:02 PM | Reply

@#4 ... Bought with small donations.... how is that blowing it if he and his experts thinks it helps the campaign? ...

Maybe he needs to get new experts? :)

OK, more seriously...

Let me just say, I have no inkling of what the candidate stands for or proposes. My comments on this thread are only about the promotion of the candidate.

His campaign, in this ad purchase, seems to be going after the headline, i.e., ~Look, we have a SuperBowl ad!!!!!!~

But, what percentage of those actually viewing the ad live in Texas?

Would not it be more effective, instead of going after the headline, to go with many more local state-focused ads?

Maybe that large sum of money might be better spent actually communicating with the constituents he needs to vote for him.

Mayor Mamdani, as a candidate, took the approach of talking directly to the voters he needed to vote for him.

Where did that get him?

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 10:13 PM | Reply

Lamp, I could be wrong, but, are you wondering whether Texans consider Football / the Super Bowl important?

As for Talarico, he was born and raised in Texas.

I've watched a lot of his content on Instagram.

He's got a real good head on his shoulder.

Someone people should gather around regardless of party.

Best of luck to him.

#6 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-05 10:44 PM | Reply

Just a quick google search provided the following information:

The Houston Texans' playoff games have recently broken television records for viewership, indicating intense local interest in NFL events, as reported by thewaltdisneycompany.com and Sports Business Journal.

Given that Texas has one of the highest densities of football fans, it is likely that the percentage of Texans watching is at or above the national average of ~60-65%.

#7 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-02-05 10:52 PM | Reply

= Would not it be more effective, instead of going after the headline, to go with many more local state-focused ads?

As Clowny notes.... name me a Texan who doesn't watch the Super Bowl, lol!

This is a District race near Houston and the Houston Chronicle per the thread link just Endorsed him.

"Prediction market Polymarket gives Talarico roughly a 75 percent chance of winning the Democratic primary..."

www.newsweek.com

So I think they know what they are doing.

And a Dem could possibly win the District, depending on which Repub they have to run against... and both sides watch the SB.

#8 | Posted by Corky at 2026-02-05 10:59 PM | Reply

@#6 ... are you wondering whether Texans consider Football / the Super Bowl important? ...

I am not commenting upon the importance Texans ascribe to football and/or the SuperBowl. I know football is a "thing" in Texas. I don't understand why that is so, but there it is. And I acknowledge it.

The concern I express is why is the candidate spending so much money on a single ad for national viewing, when he could spend that same amount of money and talk directly to those who he needs to vote for him.

Stated differently, will those he needs to vote for him be impressed by the fact he spent so much money on a SuperBowl ad, or might they be more swayed by the many more local ads he could buy?

National vs local.

#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 11:14 PM | Reply

@#7 ... Given that Texas has one of the highest densities of football fans ..

How many of those fans actually watch the SuperBowl commercials?

Or do they use those commercial breaks as just that, breaks to visit the ~facility~ or replenish their beverage?

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 11:18 PM | Reply

@#8 ... name me a Texan who doesn't watch the Super Bowl, lol! ...

That is not what I am saying.

How many of those Texans sit through and watch all the ads?

That is what I am asking.

... "Prediction market Polymarket gives Talarico roughly a 75 percent chance of winning the Democratic primary..." ...

If that is the case, then why are they wasting money on over-priced SuperBowl ads?

#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-05 11:21 PM | Reply