Politics · October 31, 2026
Paxton and Talarico tussle for Texas Senate seat. Trump to campaign virtually instead of in person
Part of: Texas Senate: Paxton vs. Talarico →
In the final days of the 2026 midterm elections, Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are engaged in a highly competitive race for the U.S. Senate in Texas. President Donald Trump, who endorsed Paxton during the primary, has shifted his campaign activities to virtual rallies rather than in-person appearances. Both candidates held weekend rallies, with Paxton speaking in Fort Worth and Talarico in Houston. Early voting totals have reached significant milestones, with approximately 50 million votes cast nationwide and over 6.7 million in Texas heading into the final weekend.
Read the original coverage
- ABC NewsMBFC: Left-Center
Paxton and Talarico tussle for Texas Senate seat. Trump to campaign virtually instead of in person
Read at ABC News ↗ - Washington TimesMBFC: Right-Center
Paxton and Talarico tussle for Texas Senate seat. Trump to campaign virtually instead of in person
Read at Washington Times ↗ - BreitbartMBFC: Right
EXCLUSIVE: Ken Paxton Warns ‘If We Lose Texas, We Lose America’ as Senate Race Enters Final Days
Read at Breitbart ↗ - PBS NewsMBFC: Left-Center
Paxton and Talarico tussle for Texas Senate seat as Trump campaigns virtually
Read at PBS News ↗ - NewsNationMBFC: Right-Center
Paxton, Talarico make final push in Texas Senate race as early vote tops 6.7 million
Read at NewsNation ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- Ken Paxton is the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Texas.
- James Talarico is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Texas.
- President Donald Trump is conducting virtual rallies instead of in-person campaign events.
- Ken Paxton held a campaign event in Fort Worth on Saturday morning.
- James Talarico held a campaign event in Houston on Saturday.
- Ken Paxton defeated John Cornyn in the Republican primary with help from Donald Trump.
Reported by only some outlets
- Nationwide early voting totals reached nearly 50 million by the weekend.
- Texas early voting totals topped 6.7 million.
- Ken Paxton described the race as a 'tie ball game' and his hardest campaign yet.
- James Talarico is a state lawmaker, seminarian, and former teacher.
- Ken Paxton previously served as the state attorney general.
Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
frame the race as a 'measure of voters' frustration' with Donald Trump and his party while highlighting Ken Paxton's history of 'indictment and impeachment' as evidence of a 'rotten political system'.
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
emphasize Ken Paxton's warning that 'if we lose Texas, we lose America' and focus on his efforts to motivate Republican turnout against what he describes as a 'radical' left.
Where coverage diverges
Coverage diverges along left/right lines — see Framing tab for specifics.
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