The Texas US Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico remained on a knife edge as the two candidates campaigned in different cities with early voting under way.
Paxton addressed supporters in Georgetown on Saturday as part of his “Come and Take It” bus tour, while Talarico took his “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” campaign to San Antonio.
The contest has become one of the most closely watched races in the United States, with polling showing the candidates separated by only a point or, in some surveys, tied. A Fox News poll conducted between October 15 and 19 put both men on 49 per cent, with election day due on November 3.
Paxton promotes tax-cut plan in Georgetown
Paxton urged his supporters to vote early and encourage other Republicans to take part, warning that a single ballot could help determine the future direction of Texas and the country.
He used the rally to promote his “Protecting the Texas Promise Plan”, which he says would put thousands of dollars back into the pockets of Texans through a series of tax deductions.
The proposals include a $25,000 deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses and deductions linked to healthy living, including gym memberships, youth sports and GLP-1 medicines. The wider plan also includes measures aimed at home-buyers and families.
Paxton highlighted lawsuits he has filed against companies including Pfizer and Netflix, as well as legal action involving the Biden-Harris administration, as he sought to present himself as a fighter willing to challenge powerful institutions.
Some supporters at the Georgetown event said they had moved from California to Texas because they wanted to live in a Republican-led state and intended to vote to keep it that way.
Talarico, a Democratic state representative, was speaking in San Antonio as he sought to broaden the contest beyond the traditional divide between the two parties.
He argued that Texas was a state capable of “giant dreams” and told voters that the Senate seat belonged to the people rather than to either political party.
Talarico also pointed to the 2023 impeachment of Paxton, when members of both parties in the Texas House voted to remove him from office. Paxton was later acquitted by the Republican-controlled Texas Senate.
His campaign platform includes banning corporate political action committees and Super PACs, limiting the influence of big donors, outlawing partisan gerrymandering and introducing term limits.
The “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” tour takes its name from the television drama Friday Night Lights, which was set in Texas. The campaign has described it as a statewide effort to unite voters across the state rather than deepen the usual red-versus-blue divisions.
Early voting began in Texas on October 19 and is scheduled to continue until October 30. The state has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, making Talarico’s challenge a potential breakthrough for his party and a major test of Republican dominance.
Both campaigns were due to continue touring the state in the final days before the vote, with Talarico scheduled to visit El Paso and Paxton due in Amarillo.
