President Donald Trump, facing protesters and a poor political climate, fought to rally Texas voters behind embattled Senate candidate Ken Paxton on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) night in a bid to stave off a blue wave in the nation’s most populous red state.
Trump won in 2024 by almost 14% points. Wednesday’s (October 7, 2026) appearance marked Mr. Trump’s third trip to Texas in less than a month, and party officials have devoted more than $300 million to elections in the State so far. A three-term Republican governor who won reelection in 2022 by roughly 11% points, even Mr. Abbott was scheduled to headline the dedication of a hospital about 330 miles away.
The President’s message was interrupted repeatedly by protesters, including by one who appeared to be close to the stage. In all, at least a dozen demonstrators interrupted the President. Some were led away by police. The Republican Party did not plan to devote so much money and manpower to Texas this midterm season. Texas is the nation’s most populous reliably Republican state, where Mr. But with Election Day less than a month away, Mr. Trump’s poor approval ratings, the Iran war and soaring gas prices have threatened Republicans in virtually every state. In a sign of Mr. Trump’s poor standing, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott did not attend the evening rally. Abbott has been caught in the turbulent national currents. Instead of appearing with Mr. Trump, Mr. Democrats seized on the governor’s absence.
“For years, Greg Abbott has never been shy about embracing Donald Trump, calling Trump a ‘great friend’ and championing his agenda every step of the way,” said Texas Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Long. “But now, as Texas families get crushed by record-high prices driven by Trump’s tariffs and war with Iran, suddenly Greg Abbott has somewhere else to be.”
