LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – President Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico held separate rallies in Lubbock on Tuesday, both hoping to drive voters to the polls for this contentious midterm election.
Trump campaigned at the Civic Center for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton while Talarico spoke at the Fiesta Center.
Air Force One landed in Lubbock for the president’s visit on Tuesday, marking the third time a sitting president has campaigned on the South Plains in the past 50 years.
Trump rally at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center
Trump asked supporters to vote for Republicans up and down the ballot as early voting continues this week.
Before Trump spoke, Cody Campbell asked the crowd to vote for the Republican candidates on the ballot even if they don’t like them. Speaker Dustin Burrows said about 45,000 Republican voters in Lubbock County have not yet cast a ballot. Outgoing Congressman Jodey Arrington called this a consequential election.
It was Trump’s second rally of the day, as he flew to Lubbock directly from Corpus Chrisi. President Trump asked supporters to show up and pretend he is on the ballot, because Democratic opponents threaten policies and rights that his supporters hold dear and that they could affect his ability to govern.
“It’s very close, and they can turn things down,” Trump said. “I’ll be vetoing like crazy, okay? But I’d rather work on the positive side as opposed to the negative side.”
Trump also spoke about the Michigan Senate race, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, the big, beautiful bill, the war in Iran and his economic policies. He referred to members of the media in the press area as fake news several times, and thanked cabinet officials in attendance, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump then brought Ken Paxton on stage, who thanked the president for spending the day supporting him.
“You are the most Republican area of our state,” Paxton said. “And so I’m going to ask you, for the next seven days, get every Republican out to vote, and we will win Texas. God bless you.”
Enthusiasm in the crowd
First estimates showed 15,000 people wrapped around the Civic Center, and just more than 5,000 of them got inside, some standing room only.
One man said he arrived at the front of the line the night before.
“I got here 5:30, last night at 5:30,” he said. “I waited all in line and just hanging out all day, all night with all these awesome people.”
He said he traveled from Kansas.
Some attendees said they had waited a lifetime to see a president in Lubbock.
“It was the highlight of my life,” one woman said. “It was like my father that passed away, he loved him, so to me it was everything to be here.”
Protesters gather by Tornado Memorial Park
Protesters gathered outside the Civic Center by Tornado Memorial Park, where people of all ages chanted and held signs. Signs at the protest included topics ranging from candidates and policies all the way to the president’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Some protesters said they were trying to bring awareness to issues they believe the government is not concentrating on enough. Others said they were there to stand up for their own beliefs.
“To me it was just super important to come and stand my ground for my beliefs and, you know, maybe try and change a few minds,” said Meighan Edwards, a protester at the rally.
Talarico rally at the Fiesta Center
Talarico, a Texas House representative, spoke to a crowd that did not fit inside the Fiesta Center. His campaign said 4,000 people registered for the event and about 500 people volunteered. Part of the crowd stood outside, where his speech was broadcast.
Talarico’s speech focused on working-class people versus billionaires. He said Paxton accepted corporate PAC money and acted as a puppet to the elite.
“I have a legislative record. Ken Paxton has a criminal record,” Talarico said.
“This election is about whether you want a senator who puts money in your pocket or who puts money in their own,” he said. “This election is about whether you want a senator who is for Texas or for himself. This election is about whether you want a senator who serves you or who serves billionaire megadonors.”
Several Republicans have endorsed Talarico, including Victor Leal, the owner of Leal’s Restaurants, a former mayor of Muleshoe and an advisor to the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation. He ran for state Senate in 2018 as a Republican. Leal said Talarico cares about the same things he does and will enact meaningful change.
“I think what James brings to the table is that he truly does want to work across the aisle,” Leal said. “I think he truly does want to do what’s best for Texas. I think he’ll stand firm against not only Republicans when his ideals are challenged, but against Democrats.”
Talarico supporters describe energy in the crowd
The line of people waiting to enter the Fiesta Center stretched through the neighborhood and down several streets to Walnut Avenue. Attendees included people of different generations. Some older attendees said they have voted for both parties in the past but are finished voting for Republicans.
One mother said she was proud to support Talarico. She said she attended for her children, who work as teachers, and she was proud to wear her “Talafreako” shirt.
“I’m a freako. I love it,” one woman said. “I think Donald Trump tried to make it a bad thing, and we took it and claimed it. And we’re freakos, and we are freaking excited to take over Texas again since Ann Richards.”
“He has integrity, I believe, and that is sorely lacking right now in our government,” another woman said.
“We just recently adopted last year two young girls that are nine and eleven, and with the way that everything is going in the world and for their futures and stuff, it was important for us to come because we need some change bad,” one man said.
Some attendees were first-time voters or not yet old enough to vote. They said they believe support from young people can turn Texas blue.
“I’ve got multiple people out of my family to vote. I’ve gotten people in my neighborhood to vote. I’m 16,” a teenager said. “I just don’t like how the world is right now. And if I want to be able to live happily and be able to afford stuff when I’m older, it starts by doing this right now.”
“I love that he doesn’t take PAC money,” one young man said. “I think that’s a really big thing for me.”
Speakers were set up outside for people who did not get in, a crowd estimated to be hundreds of people, perhaps up to a thousand.
Early voting ends Friday.
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