“So if you go out and vote, we’re gonna have a tremendous win in Texas,” President Donald Trump told a packed crowd, warning that voters “cannot have a guy like Talafreako, because he’s not even Christian,” The Texas Tribune reported.
Lubbock transformed into the center of the political universe on Tuesday as President Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico staged dueling rallies just miles apart. With the elections nearing their end, the high-stakes showdown underscored the fierce battleground Texas has become as voters head toward November 3.
A Ruby-Red Stronghold Draws Rival Crowds
Outside the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, a sea of red baseball caps formed before the sun rose on Tuesday. Thousands of Republicans gathered to hear Trump, with some attendees draped in American flags, wearing sequined cowboy hats, and sporting merchandise declaring that “Trump was right about everything,” according to reporting by The Texas Tribune. Across the street, a small group of two dozen protesters held signs supporting Talarico and opposing Trump.
Just a few miles away at the town’s Fiesta Center, scores of Talarico supporters formed a line that wrapped several city blocks. Trump spent more than an hour speaking at his event, repeating familiar attacks against Talarico. He claimed that Talarico and Democrats would repeal the Second Amendment and allow millions more people to pour in from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Lubbock has long stood as a ruby-red home base for Republicans. The city, referred to as the Capital of West Texas, features a mix of college students, wealthy business owners, and elderly residents. In 2024, Trump carried Lubbock County by 40 points, according to AP News.
Energy Politics and High-Stakes Senate Maneuvering
Trump’s campaign blitz across the state also included a stop in Corpus Christi to support Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton. There, Trump spoke within view of an oil tanker moored near the Port of Corpus Christi, highlighting the first oil received from Venezuela under a recent agreement with Washington, Reuters reported. “We’re celebrating the greatest oil victory in history. To the victor belongs the spoils, right?” Trump told the crowd.
A loss in Texas next Tuesday would complicate the Republican Party’s path to retaining its slim Senate majority. Texas has consistently voted Republican for 30 years. However, Democrats raised their hopes this year when Paxton won the Senate nomination with Trump’s backing. Paxton faced securities-fraud indictments in 2015 and an impeachment by the Texas House in 2023, though the criminal case was dismissed in 2024 following an agreement with prosecutors, and the Texas Senate acquitted him during his impeachment trial.
Talarico Targets Wealth and Alleged Political Corruption
While Trump leaned heavily into cultural issues in Lubbock to portray Talarico as too liberal for Texas, the Democratic nominee centered his campaign message on an alleged “corruption crisis” plaguing the nation. Throughout his campaign stops, Talarico argued that wealthy donors have corrupted politics and fueled an affordability crisis, even calling out billionaire Elon Musk during his stump speeches.
“He is trying to buy Texas,” Talarico said of Musk, according to AP News. “Texas is not for sale.” This rhetorical approach parallels the Texas governor’s race, where Democrat Gina Hinojosa is waging a spirited campaign against GOP Gov. Greg Abbott.
Trump’s October campaign schedule has spanned Oklahoma, Alabama, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
