Notes from the Campaign Trail: Social Media vs AM Radio Edition

January 22, 2026 5:30 AM

Notes from the Campaign Trail: Social media vs AM Radio Edition

In Senate District 9 special that's coming down to the wire, Rep. Talarico pushes Democrats online saying "this is the most important election you might not know about" while Lt. Gov. Patrick takes to the airwaves to rally the GOP base: "I'm very concerned about this election"

Editor's note: Reporter James Russell in Fort Worth contributed to this article - SB

DALLAS-FORT WORTH - In the Year of Our Lord 2026, it might surprise some observers in Austin that the staying power of conservative talk radio is still undeniable in GOP politics across Texas. Even though voters are indeed inundated with social media messages on Facebook and Twitter, the AM dial is still very often king when officeholders and candidates are trying their best to reach some of the staunchest conservative voters at key moments.

For proof, just ask Republican officeholders whether the hair on the back of their neck stands up if Mark Davis mentions their campaigns or talks about the impeachment of AG Ken Paxton on KSKY 660am in DFW or Michael Berry criticizes them on his show on the powerful KTRH 740am down in Houston. Out in West Texas, GOP candidates compete to appear on the Chad Hasty Show on KFYO 790am based in Lubbock. The show's attracted Democrats, too, including former Rep. Beto O'Rourke.

A few years ago, Berry railed against then-Comptroller Glenn Hegar and, during a disagreement between the two men, gave out Hegar's personal cell phone number so that angry Republicans could call him directly. It was ugly.

By the way, as much as officeholders seem obsessed with their Twitter feeds, Facebook often has outsized influence in GOP primaries because of the specific demographics targeted in campaigns. The average Republican voter in this state is still around 65, after all, while the average Democratic voter is closer to 50, depending on whose numbers you trust. Democrats like Rep. James Talarico can be breakout stars on social media in much the same way Republicans like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick rose to prominence on the radio dial in the Bayou City.

Those demographics are exactly why AM radio remains such a powerful medium in the state's politics and why Patrick can still use it to great effect when rallying the troops. As a former radio talk show host himself, the AM dial is Patrick's natural habitat.

Here in the Metroplex this morning, Patrick took to the airwaves to, in part, sound the alarm about the special election playing out now in Tarrant County to fill the Texas Senate seat vacated last year by Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock.

Patrick, calling into the Mark Davis Show from Davos where he's attending the World Economic Forum, told the Dean of Texas Talk Radio he's "very concerned about this election."

Why? Well, Patrick explained, his preferred candidate Leigh Wambsganns has received very positive reactions from conservative Tarrant County voters. But, he said, they seem a bit confused about the election timeline because the Patriot Mobile executive is not only running in the special election but also in the GOP primary coming up in March. Early voting in the special election started Wednesday, runs for 6 days, and election day is Saturday the 31st. And it's safe to say that not only will the unusual timing suppress voter turnout, but an ice storm expected to sweep across the Metroplex and much of Texas this weekend will make participation even worse.

The Democrat in the race, Taylor Rehmet, now seems to be garnering more high-profile support after he led the field of three candidates late last year to advance to the runoff. Right after the first round of voting in November, some Democrats grumbled that leaders in their party missed an opportunity to claim a victory in one of the most conservative Republican parts of Texas and leverage that kind of momentum heading into what could very well be a banner election cycle for Democrats across the nation.

"People are very confused and I understand it," Patrick said of the election calendar.

Patrick said even though he fully expects Wambsganss to eventually win the seat, he doesn't want to give the Democrats even a symbolic victory.

"Whoever wins that (special election) will be in essence a ceremonial senator because we're not in session," Patrick said. Even so, "I don't want a Democrat to be a ceremonial senator," he said. If that were to happen, Patrick argued it would give Democrats another opportunity to make the case to national donors that Texas is "turning purple."

"And then millions of dollars will pour in here next November," Patrick said. "I'm pleading with the people in Tarrant County - every Republican - go out and vote for Leigh Wambsganss." Patrick said he also thought it was possible for Rehmet to pull this off because "we did this to the Democrats" back in 2018 when Sen. Pete Flores, a Republican, defeated former Congressman Pete Gallego for a South Texas seat in the Senate.

"We lost it the next time around and we got it back after redistricting," Patrick reminded listeners.

Meantime, Rep. Talarico is on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter - he has a significant following across all those platforms - telling folks in Tarrant County to get out and vote for Rehmet.

"Right now, he's up against a big money opponent who's outraising him 10 to 1," Talarico said today. "This is a seat Democrats haven't won in years and that's exactly why the special interests are pouring money in."

To that point, here's how the campaign finances look for both candidates.

Rehmet raised $207,000, spent $107,000 and has $133,000 cash on hand.

Unions, members and Democratic groups gave generously.

The Machinist Non-Partisan Political League gave $10,000. Tarrant County Stonewall Democrats gave $5,000.

Nearly all the Senate Democratic Caucus gave as well. Chair Carol Alvarado, Senators Molly Cook, Sarah Eckhardt, Jose Menendez and Royce West each gave $2,000 Senators Nathan Johnson, Judith Zaffirini and Roland Gutierrez each gave $1,000.

Rep. Talarico gave $5,000. Rep. Ann Johnson gave $2,500. Rep. Chris Turner gave $2,500. HDC Chair Gene Wu, Reps. Salman Bhojani and Nicole Collier each gave $500. Don Henley of The Eagles gave $1,000.

The Harris County Democratic Party gave $12,000 in-kind.

Wambsganss raised $529,000, spent $300,000 and has $362,000 cash on hand. She has $200,000 in loans.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform gave $200,000. Texas Senate Leadership Fund - that's Patrick's PAC - gave $100,000. The Union Pacific Corporation Fund For Effective Government and the Beer Alliance of Texas each gave $2,500.

Bryan Bradford of Atlanta gave $50,000. Richard Moncrief of Fort Worth and Woody Hunt of El Paso gave $10,000 a piece. Rep. Don McLaughlin gave $1,000.

By Scott Braddock