Trump Campaigns in Texas for Crucial Senate Race
President Donald Trump is heading to Texas in a critical phase of the midterm campaign, aiming to boost Republican voter turnout in a fiercely contested Senate race. Trump will make appearances in Corpus Christi and Lubbock on Tuesday, alongside Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton.
This visit comes one week before Election Day, with early voting already in progress. Republicans face an unusually tight Senate contest in a traditionally Republican stronghold. Previously, Trump secured the state with nearly 14 percentage points two years prior. A recent Fox News poll indicates a neck-and-neck race against Democrat State Rep. James Talarico.
The campaign stops represent Trump’s fourth visit to Texas since Labor Day. He previously attended the GOP midterm convention in Dallas in early September, returned for an event at Peterbilt’s Denton facility on Oct. 1, and then held a rally in San Antonio.
According to a Fox News poll, Paxton and Talarico are tied at 49% among likely voters. Last month, Talarico had a slight edge over Paxton. The contest between Paxton, who previously defeated Cornyn in a heated GOP primary, and Talarico, a former teacher and legislator, may end Democrats’ long-standing statewide election losses in Texas.
While Trump and Paxton rally in Lubbock at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Talarico will campaign at Texas Tech. Both candidates present contrasting appeals to voters as the election draws near. Paxton highlights Talarico’s alleged ties to the national Democratic Party. Conversely, Talarico targets voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s economic policies.
Democrats show more enthusiasm, with 69% expressing extreme interest in the election compared to 61% of Republicans. Paxton confronts challenges within his party, with 90% Republican support against 98% of Democrats backing Talarico. Paxton has also been embroiled in scandals, including a 2023 impeachment vote and a contentious divorce.
Beyond the Senate race, Texas plays a crucial role in the battle for the House after Republicans redrew the state’s congressional map to favor GOP candidates. The election also assesses whether Trump’s 2024 Hispanic voter gains persist. Currently, Hispanic likely voters favor Talarico 64%-34%.
Pocketbook issues heavily influence voters, with 43% feeling financially worse off than two years ago. Those expressing financial strain heavily back Talarico, while those whose financial situations improved or stayed the same support Paxton.
With voting underway and a deadlocked Senate race, Trump’s Texas campaign efforts will gauge if the coalition that supported him previously will turn out again, despite him not being on the ballot this time.