With Ken Paxton's GOP primary win this week, Democrats now have the Republican Senate candidate, tactically speaking, they were hoping for.

• Now the question is whether their nominee, James Talarico, a young state lawmaker from Austin, can deliver them out of the wilderness.

Why it matters: A Talarico win would give the Democrats an unexpected seat in their quest to retake the Senate — and potentially move Texas into the battleground column for 2028, a seismic reordering of the national electoral landscape.

The latest: Talarico announced his campaign had raised more than $3 million in the 24 hours after Paxton defeated longtime U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the Tuesday runoff — calling it the biggest single-day haul of his campaign.

State of play: Paxton, the Texas attorney general, has dodged an impeachment conviction and an FBI investigation over corruption allegations from his own senior staffers. He also avoided a trial on felony security charges. Now his wife, Republican state Sen. Angela Paxton, is seeking a divorce on "biblical grounds."

• Meanwhile, Democrats are invigorated by special election results across the country, including in Texas, and see hope in President Trump's low approval ratings.

What's next: Talarico's first campaign stops of his general election campaign hint at his strategy: Excite the Democratic base and win over disaffected Republican voters in suburban and rural areas.

• Since the primary runoff, he's rallied in Houston, Nacogdoches, San Antonio, Leander outside Austin, and is scheduled to speak in Plano tonight — just down the road from Paxton's hometown in the northern Dallas suburbs.
• "We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis," Talarico said of Paxton at a packed nightclub in Houston last week.

The other side: At his victory rally on Tuesday night, Paxton called Talarico an "extreme radical."

• Paxton accused Talarico of running a "vegan campaign" and called his opponent "James Talafreako."
• The next night, Talarico said that he's been "eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton's first indictment" and his campaign has coopted the insult, selling "I'm a Talafreako" T-shirts.

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The race between Paxton and Talarico could hinge on the answers to these questions:

• Can Paxton count on the support of establishment Republicans — personified by the George W. Bush wing of the party — who supported Cornyn?
• Will Black voters who supported U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) in her Senate primary campaign turn out for Talarico?
• Will Austin-based podcaster Joe Rogan, whose influence on young white men was so heavily scrutinized after the 2024 election and who praised Talarico on his show last year, go to bat for the Democrat — and will it matter?
• Will Talarico's populist message resonate amid rising prices — and Paxton's familiar culture warfare?

The bottom line: To the extent this vote is a referendum on the president, what will the national mood about Trump be in October, when early voting begins?

• Will Texas Republicans want to show their support for Trump — or will many of them just stay home?

🗳️ Fort Bend County is investigating the cause of a voting system problem during last week's primary runoff election. (Houston Public Media)

👮‍♂️ Two Houston police officers are under investigation for using a GPS tracker without a warrant and then lying about it, per court records. Neither have been charged with a crime. (Houston Chronicle)

🍻 Conroe's Southern Star Brewing is shutting down after 20 years in business, the company announced. (KHOU)

🐶 Go on a run or a stroll with adorable shelter dogs with Friends For Life in the Heights.

• Free. 7pm tonight.

📺 Watch a "Golden Girls" marathon with your date at Rooftop Cinema Club.

• A love seat for two with a bag of popcorn is $27. 7pm tomorrow.

🧠 Test your knowledge at Flying Saucer's Tuesday Trivia.

• 7:30-9:30pm tomorrow.

⚾️ Celebrate Pride Night with the Astros as they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park.

• Tickets start around $15. 7:10pm Wednesday.

🏺 See the best of the Bayou City's ceramicists go head-to-head at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft's Ceramic Throwdown skills competition.

• Free. 5:30-8pm Thursday.