Talarico’s Senate Campaign Is Rolling Out Digital, Radio And Print Advertising Through Black Media As Part Of Its $25 Million Black Voter Engagement Effort
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico is expanding his push to reach Black Texans, launching a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign across Black radio, newspapers and digital platforms statewide.
The new ad buy is part of Talarico’s broader $25 million commitment to Black voter outreach as he campaigns against Republican nominee Ken Paxton in the November election. The investment follows criticism earlier in the campaign from some Black voters and political leaders who questioned whether Democrats were doing enough to engage one of the party’s most important constituencies.
According to the Talarico campaign, the latest advertising push includes a new radio spot titled “Legacy,” which will run on gospel, talk, hip-hop, R&B and news stations across Texas.
The campaign is also launching “Afford It,” a digital ad scheduled to run statewide on digital platforms and television, while print advertisements will appear in historic Black newspapers across Texas.
Three Black-owned communications firms are overseeing the paid media effort. Bryson Gillette is handling television and digital advertising, Foston International Communications of Richmond is leading radio advertising and Houston-based Advantage Communications Group is overseeing print.
Related: James Talarico Pledges $25 Million for Black Voter Outreach
The campaign previously announced the three firms as part of an expansion of its Black voter engagement operation.
Bryson Gillette was founded by Bill Burton, who served as national press secretary for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and later as a deputy White House press secretary.
Foston International Communications, founded by Judy Foston Stanford in 1984, has more than four decades of experience in Texas and previously worked on print and radio programs for Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 U.S. Senate campaign and his later campaign for governor.
Advantage Communications Group is led by Linda K. Brown, whose career has included roles with BET and KTRK-TV ABC-13 as well as political work with Rev. Jesse Jackson and several Texas congressional campaigns.
Also Read: Talarico Has Black Voter Support. So Why Did He Pledge $25 Million For Outreach?
$25 Million Black Voter Investment Takes Shape
The advertising rollout provides another look at how Talarico is putting his previously announced $25 million Black voter engagement pledge into action.
Talarico said in July that the investment would include targeted advertising, voter registration, door-to-door organizing and appearances at community events. Since then, his campaign has also added veteran Black political operatives Aisha J. McClendon, Delilah Agho-Otoghile and Cliff Walker as senior advisers.
The Associated Press reported last week that Talarico has continued making appearances at Black churches, businesses and community events as his campaign works to strengthen its relationship with Black voters. Black Texans make up more than 13% of the state’s population and remain a significant part of the Democratic electorate.
The outreach comes as advertising spending intensifies in the Senate contest. Republican-aligned groups have committed substantial sums to supporting Paxton, including a $100 million advertising commitment from the Senate Leadership Fund. Talarico’s campaign has also continued spending millions on advertising as both sides compete for voters ahead of Election Day.
