Paxton and Talarico close Texas Senate race as Trump shifts to virtual rallies

Texas was not expected to be at the center of a midterm election that could reshape the final chapters of Donald Trump's second presidency, according to the Associated Press. But Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are making final weekend blitzes in a tossup U.S. Senate race that the wire service describes as one measure of voters' frustration with Trump's leadership and his party ¹².

Paxton, the longtime state attorney general who defeated Republican Sen. John Cornyn earlier this year with Trump's help, spoke Saturday morning in Fort Worth. Talarico, a state lawmaker, was to rally support in Houston later Saturday ¹².

On tapeCBS19 · Oct 27

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Paxton warned voters against restoring Democratic control of Capitol Hill and cast Talarico as the frontman for a far-left agenda and Washington powerbrokers like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York ¹².

I’m not exaggerating when I say, if we lose Texas, we lose America

He urged Republicans to match what the wire copy called enthusiastic early voting turnout from Democrats. Early balloting totals were approaching 50 million heading into the weekend, and about 112 million voted in total in the 2022 midterm elections ².

From Channel GOPTalarico asks how Ken Paxton got 15 homesJames Talarico · 157 plays · captioned, with the source named

Trump moves to the phone

The president stepped away from in-person rallies Saturday in favor of virtual events. He was scheduled to call into six tele-rallies after spending the morning and early afternoon at the golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida ¹².

Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC said the tele-rallies were lined up for races in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan and two separate calls for Florida. The White House released few details on what to expect, but the president generally participates in such calls, a departure from his rally speeches, which often stretch for 90-plus minutes ².

Answer your phones, and ENJOY!

On Sunday, Trump is set to hold rallies in Iowa and Kansas that were scheduled, pulled down and then rescheduled ¹².

Jeffries in Virginia, Johnson in Michigan

Jeffries, who would become speaker if Democrats win a House majority, campaigned in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District with former Rep. Elaine Luria, who is in a rematch with Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans. Luria lost her seat to Kiggans four years ago ¹².

Jeffries said Democrats would fight for "an affordable America," criticized Republicans for filling a "graveyard of broken promises" and repeated his pledge to hold votes on reversing Republicans' healthcare cuts, pass sweeping voting rights laws and limit Trump's military actions on Iran. He also said that in the majority, "one of the first things we are going to do is run Pete Hegseth out of town," referring to Trump's Pentagon chief ².

House Speaker Mike Johnson, campaigning in a Michigan tossup district, framed the election as a spiritual battle and said Republican voters owe it to a higher power to vote. He also attacked Democrats over their ideology ².

The southeast Virginia district is among the most competitive in a House battleground map. Democrats are targeting at least 60 seats, and Trump won many of those by double digits in 2024 ².

Michigan unity in doubt

Democrats are still navigating internal divisions in a tight Michigan Senate race for a seat they already hold. Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and former primary rival Haley Stevens were expected to campaign together on Sunday with Rep. James Clyburn, but that is in doubt ².

After Stevens renewed her criticism of El-Sayed, his campaign is no longer welcoming her to events, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters. Antjuan Seawright, an adviser for Clyburn, said the congressman was still inviting both to join him for church on Sunday morning ².

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate. Democrats need to pick up at least four new seats for a majority and would need at least five if they lose Michigan ².

The Record

1. Oct 31, 2026Paxton told supporters in Fort Worth the race will "go down to the wire" ¹².
2. Oct 31, 2026Trump was scheduled to call into six tele-rallies for races in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan and Florida ².
3. Nov 1, 2026Trump is set to hold rallies in Iowa and Kansas that were scheduled, pulled down and then rescheduled ¹².

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<h2>Paxton and Talarico close Texas Senate race as Trump shifts to virtual rallies</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/paxton-and-talarico-close-texas-senate-race-as-trump-shifts-to-virtual-rallies">The GOP Files</a> on Saturday, October 31, 2026.</em></p> <p>Texas was not expected to be at the center of a midterm election that could reshape the final chapters of Donald Trump&#39;s second presidency, according to the Associated Press. But Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are making final weekend blitzes in a tossup U.S. Senate race that the wire service describes as one measure of voters&#39; frustration with Trump&#39;s leadership and his party .</p> <p>Paxton, the longtime state attorney general who defeated Republican Sen. John Cornyn earlier this year with Trump&#39;s help, spoke Saturday morning in Fort Worth. Talarico, a state lawmaker, was to rally support in Houston later Saturday .</p> <p>Paxton warned voters against restoring Democratic control of Capitol Hill and cast Talarico as the frontman for a far-left agenda and Washington powerbrokers like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York .</p> <blockquote><p>I’m not exaggerating when I say, if we lose Texas, we lose America</p><p>&mdash; Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, Republican Senate nominee</p></blockquote> <p>He urged Republicans to match what the wire copy called enthusiastic early voting turnout from Democrats. Early balloting totals were approaching 50 million heading into the weekend, and about 112 million voted in total in the 2022 midterm elections .</p> <h2>Trump moves to the phone</h2> <p>The president stepped away from in-person rallies Saturday in favor of virtual events. He was scheduled to call into six tele-rallies after spending the morning and early afternoon at the golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida .</p> <p>Trump&#39;s MAGA Inc. super PAC said the tele-rallies were lined up for races in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan and two separate calls for Florida. The White House released few details on what to expect, but the president generally participates in such calls, a departure from his rally speeches, which often stretch for 90-plus minutes .</p> <blockquote><p>Answer your phones, and ENJOY!</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President of the United States, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>On Sunday, Trump is set to hold rallies in Iowa and Kansas that were scheduled, pulled down and then rescheduled .</p> <h2>Jeffries in Virginia, Johnson in Michigan</h2> <p>Jeffries, who would become speaker if Democrats win a House majority, campaigned in Virginia&#39;s 2nd Congressional District with former Rep. Elaine Luria, who is in a rematch with Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans. Luria lost her seat to Kiggans four years ago .</p> <p>Jeffries said Democrats would fight for &quot;an affordable America,&quot; criticized Republicans for filling a &quot;graveyard of broken promises&quot; and repeated his pledge to hold votes on reversing Republicans&#39; healthcare cuts, pass sweeping voting rights laws and limit Trump&#39;s military actions on Iran. He also said that in the majority, &quot;one of the first things we are going to do is run Pete Hegseth out of town,&quot; referring to Trump&#39;s Pentagon chief .</p> <p>House Speaker Mike Johnson, campaigning in a Michigan tossup district, framed the election as a spiritual battle and said Republican voters owe it to a higher power to vote. He also attacked Democrats over their ideology .</p> <p>The southeast Virginia district is among the most competitive in a House battleground map. Democrats are targeting at least 60 seats, and Trump won many of those by double digits in 2024 .</p> <h2>Michigan unity in doubt</h2> <p>Democrats are still navigating internal divisions in a tight Michigan Senate race for a seat they already hold. Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and former primary rival Haley Stevens were expected to campaign together on Sunday with Rep. James Clyburn, but that is in doubt .</p> <p>After Stevens renewed her criticism of El-Sayed, his campaign is no longer welcoming her to events, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters. Antjuan Seawright, an adviser for Clyburn, said the congressman was still inviting both to join him for church on Sunday morning .</p> <p>Republicans currently hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate. Democrats need to pick up at least four new seats for a majority and would need at least five if they lose Michigan .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/paxton-and-talarico-close-texas-senate-race-as-trump-shifts-to-virtual-rallies">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/paxton-and-talarico-close-texas-senate-race-as-trump-shifts-to-virtual-rallies.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. ABC News, “Paxton and Talarico tussle for Texas Senate seat. Trump to campaign virtually instead of in person” (2026-10-31). abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/paxton-talarico-tussle-texas-
2. The Seattle Times, “Paxton and Talarico tussle for Texas Senate seat. Trump to campaign virtually instead of in person | The Seattle Times” (2026-10-31). seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/paxton-and-talarico-tus

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