Donald Trump campaigns in Texas to support Ken Paxton

President Donald Trump is traveling to Texas to headline a fundraiser for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Paxton, the state’s attorney general, is currently trailing Democrat James Talarico in recent polls. A University of Texas and Texas Politics Project poll placed Paxton at 39% support compared to Talarico’s 42%, though 14% of voters remain undecided. The nonpartisan Cook Report classifies the race as a “tossup.”

Democrats view the contest as a critical opportunity to flip a Republican seat in a state they have not held since 1993. While Trump has attempted to frame Talarico as being aligned with the radical left, Talarico is campaigning on a platform of Christian faith and grassroots populism.

In response to the fundraising efforts, the Democratic National Committee has criticized the administration, arguing that while Trump engages with wealthy donors, working families are struggling with rising costs for groceries, gas, and housing. Economic data cited by the DNC indicates that consumer confidence is at a seven-month low and that average household spending on goods and services has increased significantly since Trump took office.