CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (WOAI/KABB) — President Donald Trump returns to Texas today for a pair of campaign rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock as Republicans look to strengthen their support ahead of next week’s midterm elections.
The president’s visit comes as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces a closely contested U.S. Senate race against Democrat James Talarico, drawing national attention to a state that has traditionally been a Republican stronghold.
Trump is scheduled to make campaign stops in both South Texas and West Texas, part of a broader effort to rally Republican voters in the final days before the election.
Trump previously campaigned in San Antonio on Oct. 7, making today’s trip his fourth visit to Texas since Labor Day.
The president’s Texas trip will also include a stop in Port Arthur, where he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to highlight a newly arrived oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude oil destined for processing at Texas refineries.
According to a congressional aide and two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, Rubio plans to accompany Trump during the Port Arthur visit. It remains unclear whether the secretary of state will participate in either campaign rally.
Rubio, who also serves as Trump’s national security adviser, has largely stayed away from campaign appearances since joining the administration. His participation in today’s trip would mark a rare political outing for the nation’s top diplomat.
The visit also highlights the growing overlap between administration business and campaign travel, with other senior officials, including Attorney General Todd Blanche, appearing alongside Republican candidates at campaign events.
Rubio, a former presidential candidate, is widely discussed as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential election, although he has not announced any plans to run.
Trump’s return to Texas comes as both parties focus on voter turnout in the closing stretch of the campaign, with the state’s closely watched Senate contest among the races drawing significant attention nationally.
Today’s rally schedule and recent polling provide several useful additions:
Corpus Christi: Trump is scheduled to speak at the Port of Corpus Christi at 2 p.m. today.Lubbock: Trump is scheduled to speak at 6 p.m. at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Senate race: A Fox News poll released last Wednesday found Paxton and Talarico tied at 49% among likely voters. Democratic campaign: Talarico is also scheduled to campaign in Lubbock tonight, with a separate event beginning at 7 p.m.
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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.