James Talarico faces off against Trump in dueling Texas rallies in election’s final days

Key Points:

• In Lubbock, Texas, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico attracted large crowds on the same day President Donald Trump held a rally nearby to support Republican candidate Ken Paxton, highlighting the high stakes of the closely contested Senate race.
• Talarico criticized Paxton as corrupt and aligned with Trump, blaming high gas prices and economic issues on systemic corruption, while emphasizing the opportunity to flip a Republican-held seat after three decades.
• Trump attacked Talarico as an extremist out of touch with Texans, mocking his recent absence from the campaign trail and portraying Paxton as the defender of Second Amendment rights and traditional values.
• The race has drawn significant national attention and spending, with Republicans leveraging Trump’s popularity and introducing Marco Rubio to appeal to a broader voter base, while Democrats aim to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with the economy and government.
• Despite Texas being a Republican stronghold, polling shows Talarico with a narrow lead, signaling a potentially competitive election fueled by voter anger and the candidates’ contrasting messages.