With the midterms just days away, Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico began making their closing arguments Saturday in a tossup U.S. Senate race in Texas, a contest the Associated Press says has become a measure of voter frustration with President Trump and his loyalists in the Republican Party.
The candidates' pitches
Talarico, a state lawmaker, seminarian and former teacher, went after Paxton, the longtime state attorney general who has weathered indictment and impeachment and has Trump's endorsement. "This election is about whether you want a senator who puts money in your pocket or who puts money in his own," Talarico said in Houston.
Paxton, who beat Republican Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary with Trump's help, spoke in Fort Worth and portrayed Talarico as too liberal for Texas and a likely ally of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. "I'm not exaggerating when I say, if we lose Texas, we lose America," he said, urging Republicans to match Democrats' early-voting enthusiasm.
Talarico cast billionaire Elon Musk as his shadow opponent. AP reports Musk has spent more than $150 million of his own money to help Paxton keep pace with Talarico's fundraising. "It's David vs. Goliath," Talarico said.
Trump goes virtual
Early balloting was approaching 50 million heading into the weekend, compared with about 112 million total votes in the 2022 midterms. Trump skipped in-person rallies Saturday, spending the morning and early afternoon at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, and joining six tele-rallies for races in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan and Florida. He was set to hold rallies Sunday in Iowa and Kansas that had been scheduled, pulled and then rescheduled.
Other closing messages
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigned in Virginia's 2nd District alongside former Rep. Elaine Luria, who is in a rematch with Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans, and promised aggressive oversight of the administration. Democrats are targeting at least 60 House seats. House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a Michigan tossup district, told voters it is "a spiritual battle."
The Senate map
Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority. Democrats need to pick up at least four seats for control, and at least five if they lose Michigan, where Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers. AP also reported continuing friction between El-Sayed and former primary rival Haley Stevens over whether she would appear with him at events Sunday.
Sources: PBS NewsHour, Associated Press