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A rare political showdown unfolded in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday as President Donald Trump and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico held competing rallies less than three miles apart. The dueling events highlighted the intense competition in a Senate race that could end decades of Republican dominance in one of America’s most reliably conservative states.
Rival Rallies Draw Large Crowds in Lubbock
Trump held his rally at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, backing Republican Senate candidate and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Meanwhile, Talarico drew a crowd of more than 4,000 registered attendees to the east side of the city. It marked the first time a sitting president had visited Lubbock in 34 years.
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Among those waiting in line for Talarico’s event was Dr. Tim Jones, 66, an emergency room physician. “We’re all closet Democrats,” he said, laughing. “There are a lot of people who are finally upset at gas prices, diesel prices, inflation, lies, the war, all of it.”
Trump’s rally featured a notable addition. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the stage and received one of the loudest rounds of applause of the evening. Rubio had largely avoided midterm campaign rallies until Tuesday. He kept his remarks short. “Our enemies are weaker, our country is stronger, and our people are safer because Donald J. Trump is the president of the United States,” he told the crowd.
High Stakes in a Tightly Contested Senate Race
With one week until the election, Talarico holds a narrow lead in polling. His decision to campaign in Republican-leaning Lubbock signals a strategy focused on winning crossover votes. Democrats see the race as a rare opportunity to flip a Senate seat that Republicans have held for more than three decades.
At his rally, Talarico targeted Paxton directly. He called Paxton the most corrupt politician in Texas and accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of trying to purchase political influence. Musk has invested more than $150 million into Paxton’s campaign and holds significant business interests in Texas. “We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis,” Talarico told supporters. “We can change that in this election.”
Democrats also criticized rising gas prices, inflation and the closure of rural hospitals across the state.
Trump Attacks Talarico, Paxton Leans on Presidential Support
Trump wasted little time going on the offensive. He labeled Talarico an “anti-gun extremist” and mockingly referred to him as “Talafreako” during his speech. He also questioned Talarico’s earlier absence from the campaign trail, which the candidate attributed to illness. Trump suggested the real reason was either a “mental problem” or an upset stomach from eating meat.
Talarico, however, embraced the nickname. He told his crowd he had never seen so many “Talafreakos” packed into one room. “Lubbock is ready for change,” he declared to loud cheers.
Paxton expressed strong gratitude for Trump’s repeated support. Trump has visited Texas three times this month and held two rallies on Tuesday alone, starting in Corpus Christi before moving to Lubbock. Paxton told the crowd that Trump said he does not normally hold two rallies for a single candidate. “He said, ‘I must really like you,'” Paxton recalled. “Mr. President, I really like you, too.”
Republican Concerns Beneath the Surface
Despite the enthusiasm, Republican strategists acknowledge the race is a genuine contest. Paxton carries personal scandal baggage that has weighed on his poll numbers. Furthermore, Texas Republicans remain divided after a bitter primary in which Trump backed Paxton over Senator John Cornyn, who had broad establishment support.
Talarico’s campaign expressed confidence after Tuesday’s rally. “They are scared,” he told supporters. “They see what we see — that we’re about to win this election.”
