Texas Democrat Raises $2.5 Million After Viral Colbert Video

Rep. James Talarico and Stephen Colbert on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.Photographer: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS/Getty Images

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By Joe Lovinger

February 18, 2026 at 2:15 PM UTC

Updated on

February 18, 2026 at 6:40 PM UTC

Texas state Representative James Talarico had his best fundraising day yet after CBS pulled his appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — a controversy that earned the Democrat a burst of national attention as he runs for the US Senate.

Talarico raised $2.5 million, his largest single-day haul, his campaign said in a statement Wednesday. The clip, shared online amid allegations of censorship, has racked up more than 5 million YouTube views in the day since it was posted.