President Trump is spending the final week before Election Day in Texas, with rallies scheduled Tuesday in Corpus Christi at 2 p.m. Central and Lubbock at 6 p.m. Central. The trip is aimed at driving Republican turnout in a state where several midterm races have tightened, most notably the U.S. Senate contest between State Rep. James Talarico and Attorney General Ken Paxton, which multiple analyses now rate as a toss-up.
Joshua Blank, research director of the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin, said the president’s focus on Texas has been a big topic of discussion, specifically whether it helps or hurts Republican candidates in close races. The president’s team, for its part, has decided the efforts will be helpful. What’s clear is that Texas is getting treated like a battleground in the homestretch, a shift from its usual deep-red reputation.
If you’re on the Suncoast, your ballot may look different, but the math is the same: close races are decided by turnout. Early voting and mail ballots are already in motion here in Florida, and local contests can turn on just a few hundred votes. So what’s driving your vote this year? Send us a message or call in and let us know.
