Donald Trump is due in San Antonio on Wednesday for a rally with Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, as the party mounts an intensive effort to protect its position in Texas ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The event at Freeman Coliseum is expected to begin at 4.30pm, with the president scheduled to speak at 6pm. Doors are due to open at 2.30pm and tickets are required.
Mr Paxton, Texas’s attorney general, is running against Democratic nominee James Talarico for the Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn. Republican congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz is also due to address the rally.
The visit will be Mr Trump’s third trip to Texas in less than a month, underlining the importance Republicans are placing on a state they have dominated for decades but which is proving more competitive this election cycle.
Recent polling has shown Mr Talarico with a narrow lead over Mr Paxton, while Republicans are also defending a number of closely fought House races in and around San Antonio.
Mr De La Cruz is standing in the newly redrawn 35th Congressional District, where he faces Johnny Garcia, a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy. The district was reshaped by the Texas legislature last year in a move intended to improve Republican prospects.
Trump campaign stops in Texas have been aimed at energising Republican voters, particularly in areas where the party hopes to make gains among Hispanic voters. Analysts have warned, however, that the president’s appearance could prove a double-edged intervention if it fails to appeal beyond his core supporters.
Matt Wilson, a political analyst at Southern Methodist University, said Mr Trump retained the ability to mobilise the “MAGA base”, but Republicans needed to match Democratic enthusiasm as early voting approached.
Other commentators have argued that the president must speak directly to moderate and conservative Latino voters if the San Antonio visit is to deliver the boost Republicans want.
Texas governor Greg Abbott, who was in San Antonio on Tuesday for a law enforcement roundtable, is not expected to attend the rally. He is due to be in Jasper on Wednesday for the dedication of a medical facility before appearing at a Republican Party event in College Station.
Mr Trump’s appearance is also expected to draw counter-protests. Demonstrations have been announced near Freeman Coliseum by Bexar County Democrats and the San Antonio chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Local authorities have warned of a substantial law enforcement presence, intermittent road closures and delays around the venue. Republican organisers are hoping the rally will translate into higher turnout, while Democrats are seeking to maintain momentum in a state where both parties are investing heavily.
