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Paxton-Talarico Texas Senate race intensifies

Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate campaign drew scrutiny as the race against Talarico intensified and a prominent supporter reported being escorted from a rally.

10 stories256 sourcesUpdated Oct 29, 2026

In this storyline:Ken Paxton James Talarico's Donald John Trump Marco Rubio Sherrod Brown Greg Abbott United States Senate San Antonio

Paxton-Talarico Texas Senate race intensifies — Photo: Alice Linahan Voices Empower / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Oct 27, 7 AMdots mark key developments · hover for any hourOct 29, 8 PM

Key developments

Oct 21, 2026
The Paxton-Talarico contest in Texas grew more intense ahead of the Senate race.
3 sources on this →
Oct 20, 2026
A 200K-follower MAGA influencer said she was removed from Ken Paxton’s San Antonio campaign rally without explanation.
33 sources on this →
Oct 21, 2026
President Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Waco on Oct. 27 to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign.
18 sources on this →
Oct 21, 2026
The Chicks brought Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico onstage at a San Antonio concert.
8 sources on this →

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Stories in this storyline

Politics

Trump’s Texas Swing Spotlights Tight Senate Race

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico rallied supporters in El Paso and Laredo ahead of Election Day, pitching a broader vision for Texas and criticizing Republican opponent Ken Paxton over affordability and campaign support; he also spoke out against data centers. A poll cited in one report showed Talarico narrowly leading Paxton as both candidates campaigned in the border region.

111 sources

Politics

Trump Mocks Talarico in Texas Senate Campaign

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Abbott, Paxton campaign across Wichita Falls, Abilene, Sanger

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton campaigned across the state, urging supporters to vote and promoting affordability-focused plans while attacking their Democratic opponents. Abbott emphasized property-tax cuts, the economy, border security and law enforcement, while Paxton highlighted proposed tax deductions and child-tax-credit changes at rallies in Sanger and Wichita Falls.

23 sources

Politics

Suspected Russia-Linked AI Videos Target Senate Candidates

Researchers linked AI videos using real Americans' identities to target Senate candidates Sherrod Brown and James Talarico to Russian network Storm-1516.

8 sources

Business

Trump, Rubio plan visit to Venezuelan oil tanker

Trump and Rubio plan to visit a Texas tanker with 1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil; Trump called it a "boatload" gift and said prices will drop sharply.

13 sources

Politics

Trump Plans Waco Rally for Paxton Senate Bid

President Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Waco on Oct. 27 to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign. The venue has not been announced; organizers expect the event to begin at 4:30 p.m., with Trump speaking at 6 p.m.

18 sources

Politics

Talarico Holds Narrow Lead in Texas Senate Race

Texas Senate rivals Ken Paxton and James Talarico are trading challenges over a debate: Paxton says he is willing under the right conditions but objects to CNN moderating, while Talarico has proposed Fox News or TMZ. Their broader campaign contrast includes Talarico’s opposition to school vouchers and emphasis on economic fairness, against Paxton’s defense of vouchers and attacks on Talarico as a threat to Texas’s economy and conservative values.

18 sources

Politics

200K-Follower MAGA Influencer Says Paxton Campaign Removed Her

Thelma Louise, a Black pro-Trump TikTok creator, says she was escorted from Ken Paxton’s San Antonio Senate campaign rally after being told the campaign manager wanted her to leave; she says she was given no explanation and had done nothing wrong. Paxton’s campaign has not publicly explained her removal.

33 sources

Politics

The Chicks Bring Talarico Onstage at San Antonio Concert

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico joined The Chicks onstage at a San Antonio concert, praising the band’s Texas roots and willingness to speak out. The appearance, part of his campaign outreach ahead of the midterms, echoed the group’s history of backlash after criticizing President George W. Bush over the Iraq War.

8 sources

More Lawfare on the Way

3 sources