President Trump and Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico squared off in Texas on Tuesday, holding competing rallies just days before the midterm elections. Trump made two stops in the state—Corpus Christi and Lubbock—marking his fourth visit to back Republican Ken Paxton, while Talarico held his own event in Lubbock, roughly three miles from the president's.
The Texas Senate race has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests in the country. Real Clear Polling rates it a toss-up, with Talarico holding a razor-thin edge. A Democratic victory would be historic—no Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 1988, and Trump carried the state by nearly 14 points in 2024.
At his Corpus Christi rally, Trump wasted no time attacking Talarico, mocking his name and labeling him a "Democrat Communist." He criticized the Democrat on immigration, gun rights, and even barbecue, saying, "If you're running in Texas and if you don't like guns, and if you don't like meat and if you don't like oil, I think you should be losing by a lot." Trump also seized on the arrival of a Venezuelan oil tanker in Texas, alleging Talarico would dismantle the state's energy industry.
In Lubbock, Trump continued the onslaught, claiming Talarico "wants to get rid of your guns. He wants to get rid of your oil. Wants to get rid of your meat." Talarico has denied being vegan and says he supports the Second Amendment while advocating for gun control.
Talarico, embracing Trump's nickname for him, told the crowd, "That's a lot of Talafreakos in one room." He framed the election as a choice for change, attacking Trump's tariffs and the administration's handling of the Iran war. "Change that will roll back these corrupt tariffs that are raising grocery prices. Change that will end this corrupt war in the Middle East," he said, vowing to move past "extremism and the politics of division."
The Democrat also went after Paxton, calling him the "most corrupt politician in Texas" and contrasting their records. "I have a legislative record. Ken Paxton has a criminal record," Talarico said, referencing Paxton's past indictments and impeachment—though Paxton was never convicted and was acquitted in his impeachment trial.
Talarico likened Paxton to a bar patron who adds drinks to someone else's tab, saying Texans are "done picking up his tab." He argued that even Republicans recognize Paxton's unfitness, stating, "There is no place for guys like Ken Paxton in Texas."
With control of the Senate on the line, Democrats need to flip four seats. The outcome in Texas could be pivotal, and both parties are pouring resources into the state. As the campaign enters its final stretch, the dueling rallies underscore the high stakes and the sharp divide between the candidates' visions for the Lone Star State.
