Trump campaigns for Paxton at Denton truck plant in Texas

President Donald Trump urged Texas voters to elect state Attorney General Ken Paxton to the Senate on Thursday, speaking at a Peterbilt Motors plant in Denton. Paxton is running against Democrat James Talarico in a race both parties treat as competitive. Trump framed the contest as essential to Republican control of the Senate, telling the crowd he came specifically to make the case for Paxton's election.washingtonexaminer.com

The visit matters because Texas is a critical state for Republicans to hold if they want to keep control of the Senate, and Trump carried the state by almost 15 points in the 2024 presidential contest. Paxton won the Republican primary after Trump endorsed him over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, securing the nomination. Now the general election against Talarico is tight, and Trump is trying to transfer his own popularity to Paxton.cbsnews.com+1

Why the Denton stop matters

Trump used an official White House event to tour the Peterbilt heavy truck plant in Denton, delivering rally-style remarks with two blue big rig trucks parked behind him. He tied Paxton's election to his trade agenda, telling the crowd that foreign trade cheaters had plundered wages and closed jobs, and warning they would do it again if candidates like Paxton were not elected. The White House says Trump-era truck tariffs helped spur job growth at the plant.

Trump promoted his economic record during the factory visit, saying the United States had added 60,000 new manufacturing jobs this year and that heavy truck manufacturing was almost up by about 31 percent. He toured the plant before his remarks and pointed out former NBA player Dennis Rodman in the crowd, calling him 'the greatest rebounder' and noting Rodman's relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump's remarks mixed praise with open irritation. He called Paxton 'one of the most loyal people' and said Paxton was at his side more than anybody when he was under attack from the left, adding that he had to remember that because Paxton could be a pain in the ass sometimes. He called Paxton 'the greatest attorney general in the United States of America' and said, 'We need Ken so badly, and that's why I'm here.'

Trump's praise and insults for Paxton

Trump directed his sharpest language at Talarico, calling him a 'freako' and repeating the false allegation that the Democratic candidate is a vegan because he does not eat meat. He said putting a guy like that in office would be a horror to Texas and to the country.nypost.com

Ratings disagree on how close the race is. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales lists the Texas Senate race as Lean R, while the Cook Political Report places it in its Toss Up column. Trump argued that races like this one are too close because Republicans 'can't get the word out,' and said he alone can change that by campaigning across the country.

What ratings say about the race

Trump's Texas stop opened a red-state tour ahead of the midterm elections. After Denton, he was headed to Durant, Oklahoma, to rally for Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Mazzei. He is slated to hold a rally in Alabama on Friday night in the new 2nd District, where GOP state Rep. Rhett Marques faces incumbent Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Trump plans 20 to 25 stops in the next five weeks or so.