From the start of September through Election Day, Republican-aligned groups are planning to spend $166 million to boost embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton – more than they’re set to spend than on competitive Senate campaigns in Michigan, $83 million, and Maine, $61 million, combined. The Senate contest in Texas has become a Republican money pit, particularly after a collection of GOP groups spent tens of millions of dollars trying to take Paxton down in the primary. All told, the total GOP-aligned bill in the Lone Star State is expected to exceed $300 million.