Trump makes fourth Texas trip as Democrats press affordability a week out

With one week until Election Day, tens of millions of Americans have already voted, PBS NewsHour reported Tuesday ¹. President Trump spent the day in Texas, making his fourth trip there this campaign season ¹. Texas is a state Republicans have long counted on, but PBS reported that Democrats see a chance to make gains there ¹.

Trump is trying to give Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton a last-minute boost in what PBS called a tight Senate race against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico ¹. On gas and diesel, Trump told the crowd: "Gasoline and diesel prices will soon come down." ¹

On tapeWFAA · Oct 27

▶2:37

Democrats focus on the cost of living

Talarico spoke to voters in El Paso the night before and tried to turn money worries into votes ¹. He blamed what he called corrupt political deals for higher health care premiums and tax cuts for billionaires ¹.

We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis.

Democrats are making the same case in other states. In Ohio, gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton said her campaign is fighting "to make this state affordable again." ¹

From Channel GOPTalarico: Elon Musk is trying to buy Texas Senate seatJames Talarico · 139 plays · captioned, with the source named

PBS said voters are pointing to the cost of everyday necessities, which has put the economy at the center of the final week ¹. It also noted that gas prices are related to Trump's war in Iran ¹.

Republicans make a different case

Not every voter blames the White House. A Mississippi voter told PBS: "I can pay a little bit higher gas prices so that my grandchildren can grow up and continue to grow up in a free world." ¹ Another voter said illegal immigration is still the main issue for the country and linked it to housing costs ¹.

On tapePBS NewsHour · Oct 27

▶5:28

Rep. Mike Lawler, a vulnerable New York Republican, answered with a pitch for less government and more bipartisanship ¹. He said he has "stood up to both parties to deliver for my constituents." ¹ One voter in his district told PBS that property values are "out of control" and that she might "try another option." ¹

Why Texas matters

That Republicans are spending time and presidential travel in Texas is notable. As of August, Democrats had not won a U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1993, according to a WJLA report ². The same report said Talarico's campaign centers on affordability, health care and education ².

That matters because every day Trump spends defending Texas is a day he is not somewhere else. The pattern is that Republicans are defending ground they once took for granted, while Democrats keep returning to prices.

What happens next is simple. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and PBS reported that the Michigan Senate race is one of about a half-dozen likely to decide control of the U.S. Senate ¹.

The Record

1. Jan 1, 1993Texas last elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, according to WJLA's August report ².
2. Oct 26, 2026Talarico told El Paso voters that an affordability crisis stems from a corruption crisis ¹.
3. Oct 27, 2026Trump made his fourth trip to Texas this campaign season, to help Paxton in a tight Senate race ¹.

Sources

1. PBS NewsHour, “Democrats put economy and affordability at center of final campaign push” (2026-10-27). pbs.org/newshour/show/democrats-put-economy-and-affordabilit
2. WJLA, “'He is a little freaky,' Trump says of Talarico before heading to Texas to support Paxton” (2026-08-27). wjla.com/news/nation-world/hes-a-little-freaky-trump-says-of

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