Yes
I do.
No
I don’t.
President Donald Trump is turning his attention to Texas as one of the nation’s most closely watched political battles heats up ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico is running for the U.S. Senate against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom Trump has endorsed. The contest has attracted national attention as both parties fight over a Senate seat in a state that Republicans have dominated statewide for decades.
Trump has stepped up his attacks on Talarico while campaigning on behalf of Paxton. Recent reporting shows the president has repeatedly criticized the Democratic candidate as Republicans work to define Talarico’s record and political agenda for Texas voters. Trump also traveled to Houston to help raise money for Paxton’s Senate campaign.
Talarico, meanwhile, has presented himself as an alternative to both traditional Republican politics and what he considers a political system overly influenced by wealthy donors. His economic proposals include changes involving taxes, wages, housing, child care, medical debt, energy and government regulations. He has also been an outspoken critic of several Trump administration policies.
The stakes go beyond the two candidates. A Senate victory by Talarico would represent a major political shift in Texas and could affect the balance of power in Washington. A Paxton victory would allow Republicans to maintain a Senate seat they have controlled for years.
That makes the race a larger debate about the direction Texas voters want their state to take. Supporters of Trump and Paxton argue that conservative leadership has helped make Texas economically and politically distinct from Democratic-led states. Talarico and his supporters argue that Texans are ready for a different approach on affordability, government and economic policy.
With both sides making dramatically different predictions about what the election could mean for Texas, voters ultimately have the final say.