Harris County voters will find a high-stakes U.S. Senate race on their Nov. 3 ballots, with Democrat James Talarico challenging Republican Ken Paxton and Libertarian Ted Brown.

Talarico, a state representative from Round Rock, is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas in more than 30 years. The race could help determine which party controls the Senate during President Donald Trump's final two years in office, the Associated Press reported.

The contest has drawn massive outside spending. Federal campaign filings showed Elon Musk contributed $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which gave that amount to Texas PAC, the largest contributor to Paxton's campaign, according to the AP. Musk also provided $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, another group supporting Paxton. Talarico's own campaign has outpaced Paxton's in direct fundraising, the AP reported.

Spring-area residents already dealing with rising property taxes and energy costs will recognize several of Talarico's campaign themes. He says on his campaign website he wants to lower property taxes, fix the power grid and restore abortion rights.

Talarico, 37, is a former public school teacher first elected to the Texas House in 2018, according to his Texas House biography. Born in Round Rock, he graduated from McNeil High School and earned degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University. He taught middle school in San Antonio before entering politics.

A type 1 diabetic, Talarico championed legislation capping insulin copays in Texas at $25 a month and passed a bill to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, his House biography states. He also passed laws targeting teen fentanyl overdoses and increasing accountability at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Texas Monthly named him one of its Top 10 Best Legislators.

Paxton, the former Texas attorney general, has faced questions about corruption, including an impeachment by his own party in the Texas Legislature. He was later acquitted. Paxton has not accepted any debate invitations, according to Houston Public Media, despite his campaign saying in July, "of course we're going to debate." Talarico has accepted four debate invitations.

The Houston Chronicle's voter guide notes that every member of Congress and every Texas state representative is on the ballot this cycle, along with key Harris County offices. Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30.