Reid Hoffman Pours Millions Into James Talarico’s Senate Bid (10/13/26)
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, whose past association with Jeffrey Epstein has drawn renewed scrutiny, has contributed at least $11.5 million to Lone Star Rising PAC, a super PAC supporting Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. According to federal campaign-finance filings cited by the New York Post, Hoffman gave the PAC $10 million in June after Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary, on top of earlier funding. The PAC had already spent heavily against Crockett and is now backing Talarico against Republican Ken Paxton. The connection is politically awkward for Talarico because he has repeatedly attacked what he calls the “Epstein Class” and has criticized Paxton over what he described as an “Epstein-style sweetheart deal” in an unrelated child sexual-abuse case, while also campaigning against super PACs and billionaire influence in politics. Talarico’s campaign said it has no control over outside super PAC contributions because federal law prohibits coordination. Hoffman’s relationship with Epstein is the central reason the contribution has become an issue. Epstein-related records show that Hoffman interacted with Epstein years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, including emails discussing meetings, gifts and possible visits to Epstein properties. Hoffman has said he knew Epstein through fundraising efforts connected to MIT, regrets the relationship, and supports releasing information that could help Epstein’s victims. But contemporaneous emails indicate Hoffman was aware of Epstein’s criminal history while continuing to associate with him, including a 2013 exchange in which Joi Ito said he had discussed Epstein’s jail time with Hoffman. That history now creates an obvious vulnerability for Talarico: a candidate publicly condemning wealthy people connected to Epstein is benefiting from millions of dollars in outside spending financed by one of the billionaires whose own Epstein ties have been repeatedly documented. to contact me: [email protected] source: Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein associate Reid Hoffman bankrolling James Talarico's Texas Senate run