Talarico and Trump Split Lubbock in Final Week of Texas Senate Race

Texas has been under continuous Republican control in the U.S. Senate for 30 years, but that streak faces its strongest challenge in years as the election enters its final week.

On Tuesday, two major political events took place in Lubbock, a city of fewer than 300,000 residents that has historically voted for Republicans. Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico held an evening rally on the east side of the city, drawing a crowd that his campaign says included more than 4,000 registered attendees. Less than three miles away, President Donald Trump held a rally at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center to support state Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee.

The simultaneous events underscored the intensity of a race that has attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in spending. Talarico, who has held a narrow lead in recent polls, traveled to this reliably red district to court Republican crossover voters. At his rally, he accused Paxton of corruption and described him as a Trump sycophant. Talarico also criticized tech billionaire Elon Musk, stating that the investor is using his more than $150 million contribution to Paxton’s campaign to buy a personal senator.

Talarico told the crowd that the nation faces an affordability crisis rooted in a corruption crisis. He argued that voters can change the outcome in this specific race. Dr. Tim Jones, a 66-year-old emergency room physician waiting in line for Talarico’s event, described the crowd as closet Democrats. Jones cited gas prices, inflation, and the construction of a White House ballroom as reasons why voters are finally deciding to get out and cast ballots.

Trump’s rally presented a contrasting message. The President referred to Talarico as an "anti-gun extremist" and a "meat-loathing" figure who is out of touch with everyday Texans. Minutes into his speech, Trump used the nickname "Talafreako." He also referenced Talarico’s earlier absence from the campaign trail due to the flu, suggesting the candidate might have a mental problem or was sick from eating meat.

Paxton stood beside the President during the event, telling the audience it was amazing to be on stage with the greatest president of his lifetime. Paxton said he spent the day with Trump, starting with a stop in Corpus Christi. He claimed Trump told him upon arriving in Lubbock that he does not normally hold two rallies for a single candidate, adding, "He said, 'I must really like you.'"

In a shift in strategy, Trump brought Secretary of State Marco Rubio onto the stage for a brief speaking part. Rubio had avoided midterm campaign rallies until Tuesday. He told the Lubbock crowd that their enemies are weaker and the country is stronger because of Trump’s leadership. Rubio has maintained higher approval ratings than other administration members and is considered a possible presidential candidate in 2028.

Talarico embraced the "Talafreako" moniker in his closing remarks. He pointed to the packed venue and declared that Lubbock was ready for change. He said his supporters were terrified because they saw that the Democrats were about to win the election.