President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Corpus Christi on Tuesday as other candidates campaign in the Coastal Bend ahead of Election Day.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — With Election Day just 11 days away, Corpus Christi is becoming a major stop on the campaign trail as high-profile political figures prepare to visit the Coastal Bend.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Corpus Christi on Tuesday. Gov. Greg Abbott was in town earlier this week, and his Democratic challenger, Gina Hinojosa, is also expected to visit early next week. U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is among the other candidates making their way to the area.
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As early voting enters its second week, local voters say water remains a major issue influencing their decisions at the ballot box.
“Definitely the water issue that we’ve been having for quite some time now,” Belinda Cortez, a Corpus Christi voter, said.
“Water, that the companies that come in, they should pay their part,” said voter Manuel Garcia.
“The biggest one is the water has to be,” another voter, Philip Groll, said. “And I even brought a little cheat sheet with me”
Statewide, some voters say economic concerns, including taxes and the cost of living, are also top of mind.
“Taxes, and of course the cost of living. But see that’s everywhere, and I have faith that that’ll soon be taken care of,” Groll said.
The wave of campaign visits comes as local political leaders point to Nueces County as an important area for both parties.
Carmen Calderone Jr., Chairman of the Nueces County Republican Party, said the visits show candidates recognize the region’s importance.
“It shows that they’re paying attention. They know how important this area is not only for them but you know, for the country and for the state and the community,” Calderone said.
Calderone described Nueces County as a politically competitive area, saying candidates recognize its potential importance in the election.
“We are kind of one of those purple counties that lean red, so I think the candidates realize how important our county is. It’s a battleground county and the party here has done a lot of work, and we’re ready to hold the line and get Republicans elected,” Calderone said.
Conor Rice, Chair of the Nueces County Democratic Party, said Democrats are focusing on direct voter outreach rather than relying on high-profile campaign events.
“We are making the case to voters at the doors where it matters most. We are not just gonna bring in high profile candidates and put on rallies and hoopla,” Rice said.
Rice also described Nueces County as a battleground, pointing to recent local election results as evidence of Democratic gains.
“With Nueces County and Corpus Christi being one of the last red urban cities, we are making inroads across this county. For example, you saw in Robstown this year where we flipped the mayor’s seat from red to blue by just a couple of votes,” Rice said.
With Election Day approaching, candidates and party leaders are making their final appeals to voters across the Coastal Bend.
3NEWS will provide special coverage of the candidates’ visits throughout the weekend and next week.