Trump rallies with Paxton in San Antonio as Republicans struggle in Texas Senate race
In short
US President Donald Trump held a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on October 7 with Texas Attorney General Paxton, the Republican candidate for the US Senate, ahead of the midterm elections. Texas is a Republican stronghold, but Paxton is reported to be struggling against Democratic candidate Talarico, a Texas state representative. In his speech Trump pointed to a fall in illegal immigration and tax cuts and urged supporters to vote, Kyodo News reported.
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US President Donald Trump held a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on October 7 with Texas Attorney General Paxton, the Republican candidate for the US Senate, ahead of the midterm elections, Kyodo News reported. Texas is a stronghold of the ruling Republican Party, but Paxton is reported to be struggling against Democratic candidate Talarico, a member of the Texas House of Representatives. [ 1 , 3 ]
Trump, increasingly concerned about the race, came to the state again after a visit on October 1 and moved to shore up the votes of his supporters, according to Kyodo News. Sankei Shimbun, carrying the same agency's report, said Trump fears the seat could be lost. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In his speech, Trump pointed to a fall in illegal immigration and tax cuts as achievements, and urged people to vote, saying Republicans hold only narrow majorities in both houses of Congress. He named Talarico and others and said that if Democrats win the midterms, "the borders will be opened and illegal immigrants will flood in from all over the world." Kyodo News described the remarks as stoking fears. [ 3 ]
According to Sankei Shimbun, Republicans have lost support noticeably against the backdrop of the Iran situation and high prices, and Democrats could win a Senate seat in Texas for the first time in 38 years. The paper described Talarico, a devout Christian whose grandfather was a pastor, as a rising star in the Democratic Party. [ 1 ]
Paxton belongs to the MAGA ("Make America Great Again") camp of Trump's fervent supporters but faces scandals including an extramarital affair and corruption allegations, Sankei Shimbun reported. He beat incumbent Senator Cornyn in the Republican primary with Trump's support. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
Sankei Shimbun, carrying Kyodo News, reported that Democrats could win a US Senate seat in Texas for the first time in 38 years, and that Trump fears the seat could be lost. Trump told the rally that Republicans hold only narrow majorities in both houses of Congress, so the race bears on control of Congress after the midterm elections.
Key facts
- Trump held a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on October 7 with Republican Senate candidate Paxton, the Texas attorney general, ahead of the midterm elections. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Texas is a Republican stronghold, but Paxton is reported to be struggling against Democratic candidate Talarico, a Texas state representative. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Trump came to Texas again after a visit on October 1, according to Kyodo News. [ 3 ]
- In his speech Trump cited a fall in illegal immigration and tax cuts and said Republicans hold only narrow majorities in both houses of Congress. [ 3 ]
- Trump said that if Democrats win the midterms, the borders will be opened and illegal immigrants will flood in from all over the world. [ 3 ]
- Sankei Shimbun, carrying Kyodo News, reported that Democrats could win a Texas Senate seat for the first time in 38 years. [ 1 ]
- Paxton won the Republican primary against incumbent Senator Cornyn with Trump's support. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump held a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on October 7 with Republican Senate candidate Paxton ahead of the midterm elections. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Paxton is reported to be struggling against Democratic candidate Talarico in Texas, a Republican stronghold. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Trump is described as increasingly concerned about the race and moving to shore up his supporters' votes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How far behind Paxton is in the race. The documents say he is reported to be struggling but give no polling figures or other data.
- Whether Democrats could win a Texas Senate seat for the first time in 38 years. Only Sankei Shimbun, carrying Kyodo News, makes this assessment.
- How independent the reports are. Sankei Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun both carry Kyodo News wire copy, and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun gives only the same headline.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Sankei Shimbun publishes Kyodo News copy saying Trump will hold a rally in San Antonio with Paxton on October 7. [ 1 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun publishes a headline saying Trump is shoring up votes in the struggling South. [ 2 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes Kyodo News copy reporting that the rally was held and what Trump said in his speech. [ 3 ]