With Election Day one week away, President Donald Trump is campaigning in Corpus Christi and Lubbock to rally Republican voters as polls show a highly competitive Texas Senate race and growing dissatisfaction with his administration.
President Donald Trump is heading to Texas on Tuesday for two campaign rallies aimed at energizing Republican voters ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump is scheduled to appear in Corpus Christi in the afternoon before traveling to Lubbock for an evening rally alongside Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. The events come as Paxton faces a close contest against Democratic challenger James Talarico in a state that has long been a Republican stronghold.
Paxton and Talarico Locked in Tight Race
Recent polling shows the Texas Senate contest is exceptionally competitive. A Fox News poll conducted in mid-October found Paxton and Talarico tied at 49% among likely voters, while other surveys have given Talarico a narrow lead.
Trump’s visits are intended to mobilize Republican supporters and strengthen Paxton’s campaign during the final stretch before Election Day.
The race has attracted national attention because its outcome could influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Texas has consistently voted Republican in recent presidential elections, making the close contest particularly significant for both parties.
Trump’s Approval Rating Faces Pressure
The Texas rallies come amid broader concerns for Republicans over Trump’s approval ratings and voters’ views of the economy.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on October 26 found that Trump’s approval rating stood at 32%, up one percentage point from a record low in the previous survey. The same poll found Democrats leading Republicans 47% to 36% among registered voters on the general congressional ballot.
Economic concerns, including inflation, the cost of living and rising gasoline prices, remain major issues for voters. The administration’s handling of the war with Iran has also become a point of contention in the midterm campaign.
A Crucial Final Week
Trump has held rallies across the country in recent weeks as Republicans seek to maintain their congressional majorities. The Texas appearances form part of that final campaign push.
With early voting underway and Election Day approaching, both parties are working to turn polling support into actual votes.
The outcome of the Paxton-Talarico race will depend on turnout and the decisions of Texas voters. Trump’s rallies may help energize the Republican base, but their ultimate effect on the contest remains uncertain.
