US Midterms: Texas Democrat Talarico holds last rally ahead of vote

Democrat James Talarico held his final rally in Austin on 2 November, the eve of voting in Texas’s closely contested US Senate election. Local musicians performed before the state legislator urged supporters to turn out and help him defeat Republican Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general. Talarico has campaigned on rising living costs and the influence of wealthy donors in politics, while seeking support from independents and Republicans willing to cross party lines. Paxton held his final event in Allen, where he appealed to conservative voters and portrayed Talarico as too progressive for Texas.

The race has drawn national attention because Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994 and Republicans are defending their Senate majority. Talarico’s path to victory depends in part on strong turnout in Democratic areas such as Austin’s Travis County, alongside gains in the suburbs. Paxton is counting on the state’s longstanding Republican advantage. Polling suggested a close contest as the candidates made their final appeals, but the rally crowds and campaign spending could not establish how Texans would vote on 3 November.