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Paxton Mocks Absent Talarico at Trump Rally
Confirmed
In Short: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton mocked Democratic rival James Talarico for an 11-day absence at a San Antonio rally.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton mocked Democratic rival James Talarico for an 11-day absence from public appearances at a San Antonio rally on Wednesday, where President Donald Trump also spoke in support of Paxton.
Paxton questioned Talarico's whereabouts, asking the crowd, 'Where do you think they hid that little socialist?' and leading them in a chant, 'Where is James Talarico?'
Talarico's campaign spokesperson, JT Ennis, told Fox News that Talarico had been diagnosed with the flu and was expected to return to the campaign trail this weekend.
Paxton's campaign statement said, 'James Talarico is asking Texans for their vote, but he can't even be bothered to show up.'
Talarico had previously outlined an agenda focused on lowering the cost of housing, childcare, and prescription drugs, including insulin.
Trump, who has previously praised Paxton, called for Talarico to 'immediately report to the Debate Stage' on Truth Social.
Trump also said, 'A vote for Talafreako is a vote to turn Texas into a dirty, failing, third-world country,' contrasting that with his support for Paxton.
The rally aimed to rally support for Paxton in a closely watched Senate race, with polls showing Talarico leading by 1 to 6 points.
The Barbara Jordan Policy Research and Survey Center poll shows Talarico ahead 47% to 46%, while a New York Times-Siena University poll puts Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 45%, a 6-point lead.
A Beacon Research and Shaw and Company poll has Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 49%, a 2-point lead.
Nearly $175 million in outside money has gone toward keeping the Senate seat in Republican hands.
Talarico's campaign said he had been off the trail because he was diagnosed with the flu, but he was expected to return to the campaign trail this weekend.
What this adds
President Trump held a rally in San Antonio to boost Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate bid.
Background
President Donald Trump held a campaign rally at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to bolster Republican candidates and support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's push for the U.S. Senate.
President Donald Trump held a rally in San Antonio to boost Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate bid.
What's confirmed
- Texas — President Donald Trump is traveling to San Antonio to campaign in a closely watched Texas U.S. Senate race, where Republican Ken Paxton is facing Democrat James Talarico.
- “I’ve brought Democrats and Republicans together to pass 60 bipartisan bills. Bills that lower the cost of housing, that lower the cost of childcare, that lower the cost of prescription drugs, including insulin,” Talarico said last month.
- The Barbara Jordan Policy Research and Survey Center poll shows Talarico ahead 47% to 46%.
- A New York Times-Siena University poll puts Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 45%, a 6-point lead.
- A Beacon Research and Shaw and Company poll has Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 49%, a 2-point lead.
- “So my agenda is very simple. I'm gonna fight so that every Texan can buy a home, raise a family, and live a healthy life without struggling to make ends meet. And that's why I've been billed by protecting the Texas Promise plan. This is an economic vision to put thousands of dollars back into the pockets of hardworking Texans,” Paxton said.
- Trump also called Paxton “the greatest attorney general in the United States of America,” and added, “We got to get this guy elected.” ALSO | Democrat Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in Texas Railroad Commission race report Trump is expected to appear alongside Paxton and Republican congressional candidate Carlos de la Cruz.
- On the campaign trail, Paxton has outlined what he called a straightforward agenda.
- Trump campaigned in Denton last week, where he praised Paxton while also acknowledging their dynamic.
- “He can be a pain in the ass sometimes. I'll be honest. Is he here, by the way. Oh, there he is. I didn't even know he was here. I don't care," Trump said.
- The visit is aimed at rallying support as outside spending pours into the contest.
- Doors open at 2:30 p.m., programming starts at 4:30 p.m., and Trump is expected to speak around 6 p.m.
What's still developing
- Paxton called out the Democrat senatorial candidate for pulling a nine-day vanishing act, demanding to know why the state’s political press corps had also gone missing.
- “The people of Texas are not going to let a weak, gutless, self-hating, transgender-promoting freak show destroy everything that we built," Trump said at another point during his third trip to Texas in less than a month.
- “🚨 MISSING: James Talarico. Missing posters are popping up across Texas as the search continues,” the caption reads.
- The New York Times first reported on the leaked recording, which came from a small Paxton fundraiser where an attendee recorded the conversation.
- “There is something happening in the Lone Star State,” Talarico told the crowd.
- Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton is addressing the "elephant in the room," saying she’ll vote Republican this November without mentioning one GOP candidate by name: her estranged husband, Ken Paxton.
- In the Texas Senate race, comments Republican Ken Paxton made in 2022 about the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, are circulating on social media, thanks to posts by his opponent, Democrat James Talarico, and the Democratic Party.
- The third important thing to understand is that even as Republicans go to the mat for this difficult man, spending money they’d far rather spend elsewhere, Paxton is undermining the effort to help him with comments that enrage his would-be saviors.