President Donald Trump is joining Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican nominee in the state’s U.S. Senate race, in Alamo City this evening.
Paxton announced on social media that the “Midterm Rally” will take place on Oct. 7, at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio. Doors are scheduled to open at 2:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. MT, with remarks beginning at 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT.
Trump’s appearance comes as Republicans ramp up campaigning in Texas ahead of the midterm elections, as recent summer and early-fall polling shows Democrat James Talarico leading the race.
Here’s what you need to know about the race and how to watch the campaign rally.
Watch: Trump to speak at Texas rally for Senate candidate Ken Paxton
Recent Texas U.S. Senate race polls
Here’s what September and October polls showed:
Former president Donald Trump pats Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on the shoulder as he leaves the stage during a rally at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown, Texas on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.
Did Ken Paxton say President Trump is hurting his Texas Senate campaign?
Paxton said Trump’s midterm convention in Dallas in September hurt his standing in the Texas Senate race, according to a New York Times report.
In a Sept. 30 report, the Times said it obtained an audio recording of Paxton speaking to conservative donors and lobbyists at a private fundraiser in Washington on Sept. 24. In the muffled recording, someone asks, “Do you feel like he’s a little bit of a drag?”
It’s unclear who the person was asking about, the Times reported.
Dig Deeper: Report: Paxton says Trump convention in Texas hurt his campaign
Paxton, who was endorsed by Trump, responds: “So to be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention — it dropped our numbers. Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.”
Paxton’s campaign responded to the report by saying is was “more manipulated nonsense from the New York Times to create a story that doesn’t exist.”
Will Texas Gov. Greg Abbott be there?
No, due to a scheduling conflict. Abbott is running for reelection, and his campaign told USA TODAY that the governor already had events scheduled that day but did not clarify what they were or where they would be held.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas, based in Austin. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch live: Trump to speak at Texas midterm rally for Ken Paxton
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