Talarico and Trump Hold Dueling Rallies in Lubbock

President Donald Trump and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico held separate rallies in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday. The events took place less than three miles apart in a city with a population of fewer than 300,000. Both campaigns aimed to energize voters in a race that has seen hundreds of millions of dollars in spending.

Talarico addressed a crowd of more than 4,000 people at his evening event. His campaign reported that number of sign-ups for the gathering. Dr. Tim Jones, a 66-year-old emergency room physician in the audience, told reporters that many local Republicans are deciding to vote for the Democrat. He cited dissatisfaction with gas prices, diesel costs, inflation, and the construction of the White House ballroom as key drivers for voters.

At the nearby Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Trump campaigned for Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Trump introduced Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the first time in this midterm cycle. Rubio spoke briefly, stating that the country is stronger and safer under Trump's presidency. Trump also used his time on stage to criticize Talarico, referring to him as an "anti-gun extremist" and using the nickname "Talafreako."

The rallies come with one week remaining until Election Day. Talarico currently holds a narrow lead in polling, according to reports cited in local coverage. His presence in a reliably red city signals an effort to win Republican crossover votes necessary for a victory. Democrats at the rally described the chance to flip a statewide seat held by Republicans for three decades as a rare opportunity.

Talarico focused his speech on the economy and corruption. He accused Paxton of being a Trump sycophant and specifically mentioned Elon Musk's business interests in Texas. Talarico said Musk has poured more than $150 million into Paxton's candidacy and is attempting to buy a personal senator. He told the crowd that the affordability crisis stems from a corruption crisis that the election can fix.

Paxton leaned heavily on his relationship with the president. He told the crowd that he spent the day with Trump, including a morning stop in Corpus Christi. Paxton recounted a conversation in which Trump told him that he does not usually do two rallies for a single candidate in one day. Paxton said Trump joked that he must really like him, prompting Paxton to respond that he liked the president, too.

Trump suggested that Talarico's earlier absence from the campaign trail due to the flu was either a "mental problem" or a reaction to eating meat. He framed the race as a battle between the two men and the Democratic Party, saying they were the only things standing in the way of Talarico becoming a senator. Talarico responded to the nickname by pointing out the large number of people in his audience who identified as "Talafreakos," declaring that Lubbock is ready for change.

Republican strategists view the contest as a competitive fight despite the state's Republican lean. Paxton has faced personal scandals that have affected his numbers, and the party is still dealing with internal divisions following a contentious primary. Trump visited Texas three times this month, using the trips to boost Paxton's profile in the final stretch of the campaign.