Trump Makes Third Trip to Texas as Paxton Faces Pressure
Qwenews.com – Trump makes third trip to Texas in less than a month, returning to San Antonio on Wednesday as Republicans focus on an unexpectedly competitive Senate race. President Donald Trump appeared alongside Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the GOP nominee facing Democrat James Talarico before the November 3 midterm elections.
Texas has been a dependable Republican state for decades. Trump won it by more than 13 percentage points in 2024, and Democrats have not won statewide office there since 1994. Still, Republican donors and party organizations are spending millions on Paxton’s campaign as polling signals a closer contest than many party leaders expected.
The Senate race has consequences beyond Texas. Republicans are working to protect their control of the chamber on a challenging national map, making a state they once viewed as secure increasingly important. Trump’s recent travel through Republican-friendly states, including Alabama, Oklahoma and Nebraska, has reflected that broader effort to energize voters.
Trump’s Texas Visits Put Turnout at the Center
Trump makes third trip to Texas as his allies seek to lift Republican turnout and reinforce Paxton’s standing with conservative voters. At the San Antonio rally, Trump praised Paxton, called him a “fantastic man” and invited him to join him on stage.
“I’m very proud of him and I think he’s gonna be an unbelievable senator,” Trump said.
Paxton thanked the president and asked the audience whether they were pleased Trump had come to San Antonio. The show of unity came despite recent reports of private comments in which Paxton appeared concerned about the political effects of Trump-related events and policies.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not attend the Wednesday rally, citing a scheduling conflict. He was also absent from Trump’s previous Texas appearance the week before.
Audio Leaks Create New Questions for Paxton
As Trump makes third trip to Texas, Paxton has faced scrutiny over recordings describing his concerns about the campaign environment. In audio obtained by Axios, Paxton spoke last month to donors and lobbyists about the war in Iran and higher gasoline prices.
“I don’t make the decisions, and I don’t … know what’s behind some of the decisions,” Paxton said in the recording.
The recording has not been independently verified. Paxton’s campaign disputed the broader characterization of his remarks. Spokeswoman Madison Cercy said he was expressing concerns shared by Texans dealing with gasoline, diesel and grocery costs while maintaining that Trump was working to lower prices.
The Axios recording followed audio published by The New York Times the previous week. In that recording, Paxton said a Trump midterm convention in Dallas the month before had harmed his polling.
“So to be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention — it dropped our numbers,” Paxton said.
Nick Maddux, a senior adviser to Paxton, called the account “manipulated nonsense” intended to create controversy. The leaks have highlighted a delicate calculation for the campaign: Trump remains influential among Texas Republicans and can bring organizational and fundraising strength, but his involvement may also carry political risks.
A Complicated Alliance in the Texas Senate Race
Trump has continued to support Paxton despite a record of political controversies. Paxton faced securities fraud charges that were resolved through a pre-trial agreement. He also faced allegations of infidelity and was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 before the state Senate acquitted him.
Those issues did not stop Trump from endorsing Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff. The president’s continued backing gives Paxton a powerful ally, even as the campaign works to manage questions about whether Trump’s events and policies are helping or hurting the nominee.
For Texas Republicans, the rally offered a visible reminder of Trump’s commitment to the race. Whether that support changes the contest will depend on turnout, outside spending and voters’ response to a campaign that has become more competitive than expected.
Texas Senate Race FAQ
Why did Trump return to Texas? Trump’s San Antonio appearance was his third Texas visit in less than a month and was intended to support Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign and encourage Republican voter turnout.
Who is Ken Paxton running against? Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican nominee, is running against Democrat James Talarico in the November 3 midterm election.
Why is the race drawing national attention? Republicans are trying to retain Senate control, and polling has suggested the Texas race may be tighter than party leaders initially anticipated.
What are the leaked recordings about? The recordings included Paxton’s comments about gasoline prices, the war in Iran and concerns that a Trump midterm convention in Dallas had affected his polling.
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