Texas candidates have intensified their final campaign push as early voting opened on Monday, with Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa trading attacks while the closely watched US Senate contest between James Talarico and Ken Paxton entered its decisive phase.
Abbott and Hinojosa both cast their ballots in Austin before turning their attention to the campaign trail. Their contest is one of several statewide races being closely watched ahead of polling day on 3 November.
James Talarico and Ken Paxton make final Senate push
The Senate race has become increasingly confrontational, with Democrat Talarico rejecting claims from Paxton that he has shifted his position on several contentious issues during the campaign.
“Well, my positions have been the same. I haven’t changed my position on any issue for the Senate campaign,” Talarico said in an interview with Fox 4’s Steven Dial.
He accused Paxton of making the allegation because he lacked a stronger line of attack, adding: “I know Ken Paxton doesn’t have any line of attack, and so he’s going to accuse me of changing positions, but that’s not true.”
Paxton, campaigning during a bus tour stop in north Texas, sought to frame the election as a choice between his conservative platform and what he described as Talarico’s “radical agenda”.
“While Talarico fights for his radical agenda, we fight for faith. Family and freedom. And we fight for Texas,” Paxton said.
The Republican is also expected to receive further support from President Donald Trump, who is due to return to Texas for rallies in Waco and Lubbock in the week before the election. Paxton is expected to attend both events.
The visits would mark Trump’s fourth trip to Texas during the campaign and underline the importance Republicans are placing on the Senate contest, according to political correspondent Steven Dial.
Trump has separately urged Paxton and Talarico to debate, after Talarico issued several invitations. Paxton’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment on a potential televised debate.
Early voting has now begun, leaving candidates with little time to persuade undecided voters. The certified ballot lists Paxton, Talarico and Libertarian candidate Ted Brown in the Senate race, while Abbott, Hinojosa and Libertarian Pat Dixon are contesting the governorship.
Texas voters must select candidates individually on the ballot. Straight-ticket voting was abolished by state lawmakers in 2017, and the change was upheld after legal challenges.
