Paxton Scraps El Paso Rally Days Before Election Amid Tight Texas Senate Race
Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton canceled a planned campaign rally in El Paso scheduled for November 1, just two days before the midterm election. The event, originally set for the Orca Event Venue, was dropped as his team evaluates potential rescheduling options. Paxton faces a closely contested race against Democratic state representative James Talarico, who recently held his own event in the same city. While the cancellation occurred in the final stretch of the campaign, Paxton’s team indicated he plans to return to El Paso after Election Day, though no new date has been confirmed. This move follows a period of intense campaigning, including a high-profile rally by President Donald Trump in San Antonio, which highlighted concerns over polling numbers and voter sentiment in the state.
Key points
- Ken Paxton canceled a campaign rally in El Paso scheduled for November 1, 2026, at the Orca Event Venue on Rojas Drive.
- The cancellation was announced days before Election Day, which is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
- Paxton’s team is currently evaluating whether to reschedule the event for a later date, though no specific new date has been provided.
- The race against Democratic candidate James Talarico is described as closely watched, with Talarico having held a campaign event in El Paso on October 26.
- Paxton’s team stated that he plans to return to El Paso after the election, but did not specify when this would occur.
Background
This development occurs in a highly competitive Texas Senate race where polls have shown Democratic candidate James Talarico leading Republican nominee Ken Paxton. In early October, President Donald Trump held a rally in San Antonio to support Paxton, an event marked by protests and concerns over declining support among Latino and blue-collar voters. Prior coverage noted that Paxton had privately blamed Trump’s policies for his polling struggles, and the campaign had been active in the region, with Paxton visiting the state three times in the last 30 days before the El Paso cancellation.
Why it matters
The cancellation of a late-stage rally in a key border city signals potential strategic shifts or logistical challenges for the Republican candidate in a tight race. With the election only days away, the decision to drop a major event in El Paso, a region with significant Latino voter influence, may impact final mobilization efforts. It also reflects the broader anxiety within the GOP regarding polling numbers and voter sentiment in Texas, a state that has not voted for a Democrat statewide in over 30 years.
What to watch
Paxton’s team will determine if the El Paso rally will be rescheduled for a post-election date. The outcome of the November 3 election will determine whether Paxton or Talarico advances to the U.S. Senate, with the race expected to be decided by a narrow margin given current polling data.
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