President Donald Trump and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico held separate campaign rallies in Texas on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The events took place one week before the midterm elections as Talarico faces Republican candidate Ken Paxton in a race that polling aggregators currently categorize as a toss-up. Trump held rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock to support Paxton, while Talarico held his own event in Lubbock approximately three miles away from the president’s location.
The Texas Senate race is a primary focus for both parties as Democrats seek to gain four seats to win control of the U.S. Senate. While Trump won Texas by 14 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election and no Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in the state since 1988, Real Clear Polling currently shows Talarico with a slight lead. This trip marked Trump’s fourth visit to Texas to campaign for Paxton, the state's former attorney general.
During his rallies, Trump criticized Talarico’s positions on energy, immigration, and the Second Amendment, claiming the Democrat wants to "dismantle Texas oil and gas." Trump also highlighted the arrival of a Venezuelan oil tanker in Texas on Tuesday, suggesting Talarico would interfere with such commerce. Talarico, who previously held a rally in Corpus Christi on Saturday, October 24, responded by criticizing the administration’s tariffs and involvement in the Iran war, which he linked to rising grocery and gas prices. He also described Paxton as "corrupt," citing the Republican’s history of indictments and impeachment, though noting Paxton was acquitted and never convicted.
A victory for Talarico would represent the first Democratic win for a Texas Senate seat in 38 years, potentially signaling a shift in the state's political alignment and providing one of the four seats Democrats require to take the Senate majority. Conversely, a Paxton win would maintain Republican control of both Texas seats and reinforce the state's role as a Republican stronghold. The candidates also differ on legal rights, with Talarico advocating for increased gun control measures while Trump characterized his opponent as a threat to Second Amendment protections.
The immediate impact will be felt following the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when voters determine who will represent the state in Washington. If Democrats gain control of the Senate, it could lead to significant changes in federal policy regarding energy regulations, trade tariffs, and judicial appointments. Until then, both candidates and their surrogates are expected to continue high-profile campaigning across the state to reach undecided voters in the final days of the race.