Trump Rallies in Texas as Senate Race Remains Tight

Lubbock, Texas – President Donald Trump returns to Texas during the final stretch of the midterm campaign, aiming to energize Republican voters in a highly competitive Senate race. On Tuesday, Trump will participate in events in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, supporting Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton.

This visit occurs one week before Election Day, with early voting in progress. Texas, a traditional Republican stronghold, faces an unexpectedly tight Senate contest against Democrat State Rep. James Talarico. Despite Trump winning Texas by approximately 14 percentage points in 2020, a new Fox News poll shows Paxton and Talarico locked in a dead heat.

Texan voters have varied opinions on whether the state could lean Democratic. Rising costs are influencing the midterm debate, as people assess their daily expenses. Trump’s Tuesday events mark his fourth visit to Texas since Labor Day, following his participation in the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas in early September, an event at the Peterbilt truck manufacturing plant in Denton, and a campaign rally in San Antonio with Paxton.

The recent Fox News poll reveals Paxton and Talarico tied at 49% among likely voters, with Talarico previously holding a slight lead. This clash between Paxton, who defeated retiring Sen. John Cornyn in a heated GOP primary, and Talarico, a former teacher and state legislator, seeks to end Democrats’ more than 30-year losing streak in Texas. It is also one of around twelve Senate contests that could determine the GOP’s Senate majority.

Talarico aims to disrupt Republicans’ longstanding hold on Texas statewide offices.

Both sides of the Senate battle will be present in Lubbock on Tuesday. Talarico plans to campaign at Texas Tech, while Trump and Paxton will rally at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Paxton links Talarico with the national Democratic Party, labeling him as overly liberal for Texas, using the candidate’s past controversial remarks. Talarico emphasizes voter disapproval of Trump’s economic policies.

According to the Fox News poll, Democrats show more voter enthusiasm. Around 69% are highly interested in the election, compared to 61% of Republicans. Paxton encounters some resistance within his party, with 90% support, contrasted with 98% of Democrats backing Talarico. Paxton’s decade-long scandals, including impeachment and acquittal by the Texas state Senate, have affected his campaign.

Additionally, Texas plays a critical role in the House control battle after last year’s redrawn congressional map favoring Republicans. The election will reveal if Trump’s 2024 achievements with Hispanic voters persist in the midterms, as Hispanic likely voters favor Talarico 64%-34%, differing from 2024 when Hispanic voters in Texas favored Trump.

Financial concerns heavily influence voters. Twofold as many report worse financial situations than two years ago, 43% compared to 20%, with those worse off favoring Talarico. Meanwhile, voters in better or similar financial circumstances prefer Paxton.

As voting continues and the Senate race remains tight, Trump’s Texas visit will gauge the staying power of the Republican coalition that previously secured the state for him.