Paxton and Talarico Trade Barbs as Midterm Senate Races Tighten

Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico delivered closing arguments Saturday in a tight Texas Senate race that has become a referendum on voter frustration with President Donald Trump and his party. In Michigan, Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed sought to redirect attention from a public dispute with primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens, calling the rift a distraction from voter concerns.

Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate. Democrats need at least four new seats to reach a majority, and five if they lose Michigan. Early voting across several states was nearing 50 million ballots as the weekend began. About 112 million people voted in the 2022 midterms.

Talarico, speaking to voters in Houston, called Paxton an example of political corruption. "This election is about whether you want a senator who enriches you or who enriches himself," Talarico said. Paxton, addressing supporters in Fort Worth, labeled Talarico too liberal for Texas and said, "The left in this country is radicalizing further." Both men accused the other of advancing dangerous figures. Paxton cast Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer as the power behind Talarico, while Talarico pointed to Elon Musk, who has spent more than $150 million of his own money to keep Paxton competitive in fundraising. "It's David versus Goliath," Talarico said. "The people of Texas are my sling."

In Michigan, El-Sayed told reporters in Sterling Heights that talk of his conflict with Stevens pulls focus from his priorities: removing money's influence from politics, universal health coverage, and putting more money in voters' pockets. "I have been clear that I did not make that ad and I do not agree with its content," El-Sayed said, referring to a spot Stevens has demanded he disavow. A joint campaign appearance Sunday with Rep. James Clyburn remains uncertain. Antjuan Seawright, an adviser to Clyburn, said the congressman still invited both candidates to attend church with him Sunday morning. Stevens and her spokeswoman did not respond to messages asking whether she plans to attend.

Trump spent Saturday calling voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan, and Florida instead of holding rallies, after time at his West Palm Beach golf club. He appeared at a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago that evening. Asked about the El-Sayed and Stevens dispute, Trump said, "They're really fighting." He added of Stevens, "She's in there fighting. You've got to give her credit." Trump said he would resume rallies Sunday with stops in Iowa and Kansas, and told reporters Monday would bring "many different events" without detailing them.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigned Friday in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District alongside former Rep. Elaine Luria, who faces Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans. Jeffries said Democrats would hold votes to reverse Republican health-care cuts, pass voting-rights legislation, and limit Trump's military actions against Iran. "One of the first things we're going to do is remove Pete Hegseth from town," Jeffries said of Trump's Pentagon chief, drawing the loudest response of his 11-minute speech. Democrats are targeting at least 60 House seats, many won by Trump by double digits in 2024. House Speaker Mike Johnson, campaigning in a competitive Michigan district, called the contest "a spiritual battle" and described Democrats as "Marxists, socialists, communists. That is their ideology." Trump posted an anti-Muslim cartoon Saturday depicting a man with a torch at America's door. Paxton, long dogged by controversy, repeated warnings Saturday. "I don't exaggerate when I say if we lose Texas, we lose America," Paxton said. "Pray for our Texas. Pray for me."