Trump’s Texas Swing Spotlights Tight Senate Race

A week before Election Day, President Donald Trump campaigned in Texas for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, while Democrat James Talarico held a competing rally in Lubbock. Talarico held a narrow lead in many polls and sought crossover voters by focusing on affordability, rural hospital closures and political corruption; Trump attacked him as too liberal and aimed to energize Republicans. The race drew major outside spending, including at least $158 million from Elon Musk-aligned political groups opposing Talarico, who had criticized Paxton over what he described as a $200 million Musk donation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined Trump onstage, despite not previously being expected to speak at the rallies. The contest drew national attention as Democrats saw an opportunity to win a Texas Senate seat, and both campaigns mounted an aggressive final push.