Texas Senate Candidates Make Final Push

What happened

Updated Oct 31, 6:54pm ET

James Talarico and Ken Paxton made their final appeals to Texas voters ahead of Election Day. Paxton’s final schedule shifted, with planned stops canceled or rescheduled after his campaign cited logistics and conflicts tied to visits by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The race pits Democratic state Rep. Talarico against Republican Attorney General Paxton, with Senate control at stake and no Texas Democrat elected statewide since 1994. Talarico called Paxton corrupt and tied him to wealthy donors, while Paxton said Talarico was too liberal for Texas. More than 6.8 million Texans voted early, but party advantage remained unclear. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

How the left told it

Left-leaning outlets framed the closing stretch as a sign that Republican control looked newly vulnerable, even in Texas. Mediaite highlighted Ted Cruz’s warning that Democrats could retake Congress and every statewide Texas race. The New York Times emphasized Talarico’s rise as a marquee political figure and his argument that Paxton represents a corrupt system.

How the right told it

Right-leaning outlets framed the race as a warning that Republicans must defend Texas against a liberal Democrat. Breitbart stressed Paxton’s turnout warning and challenged Democratic claims about Republican endorsements as misleading. Townhall focused on Talarico’s positions on Christianity, gender, and policing, casting them as outside Texas values.