President Donald Trump headed to Ohio to rally voters in a race that could determine control of the Senate.1,8
Democrats need a net gain of four seats to retake the majority in the U.S. Senate, and a new New York Times/Siena University poll shows Democrats may be making surprising gains in reliably red states. Both parties have less than one week left to make their closing arguments to voters.1
The push was clearest in Texas, where Trump and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico held dueling rallies Tuesday just miles apart in Lubbock. Trump held two rallies in Texas that day, first in Corpus Christi and then in Lubbock, in what was his fourth trip to the state. Talarico faces State Attorney General Ken Paxton in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than three decades.1,7
Trump told the Lubbock crowd, "And the other guy does not deserve it. He doesn't represent your values." He later said, "Seven days from now, the people of Texas are going to defeat Democrat communist James Talafreako." Paxton also criticized Talarico, telling his supporters, "So let me tell you about the other guy. I think you've heard of him, James Talarico, the most radical Democrat to ever run in Texas history."1
Talarico used the timing of the dueling rallies and that nickname to fire up the crowd. He said, "On November 3, we are going to do something extraordinary. We are going to do something historic." He also told the crowd, "I know that we're not the only show in town tonight, and I appreciate all 4,000 of you that showed up here this evening," before adding, "That's a lot of Talafreakos in one room. So..." Paxton said, "Let's go win Texas."1
In South Carolina, the same poll found Republican Sen. Darline Graham tied with Democrat Annie Andrews. Graham was appointed to fill the seat of her late brother Lindsey Graham. A poll on Wednesday found the race tied, and Trump was scheduled to rally in the state again on Thursday.1,3
Graham campaigned in South Carolina. She said, "Nobody outworks South Carolinians. That's the formula, and it's working, and we're going to keep it going." Trump's return visit followed the report Wednesday of the tied result.1,3
In North Carolina, where a Democrat has not been elected to the Senate in nearly 20 years, former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper led Republican Michael Whatley by double digits in the poll. Cooper has centered his campaign on affordability. He said, "And these tariffs are chaotic. They're not -- they're essentially a tax, folks. We need to overturn them. I will work to do that when I get to the United States Senate."1
Vice President J.D. Vance campaigned in North Carolina the same day to make the case for Republicans. He said, "North Carolina, you send a message to Washington that we are sick of being ignored, we are sick of being left behind, and we are going to put America first for a change."1
Pennsylvania illustrated the divisions shaping the midterms. The state was central to Trump's return to the White House two years ago. Voters interviewed there expressed differing views about Congress and the president.1
Linda Markle, a Pennsylvania voter, said, "The Republican Congress does not have a spine. They've abdicated their powers to one person, one person only. And that's not democracy." John Tim Betts, another Pennsylvania voter, said, "Probably President Trump. I mean, I'm sorry people don't like him, but I think he's doing more for us than anybody else has."1
The closing travel extended beyond those states. Trump and Barack Obama held dueling rallies in the final push to rally bases days before the midterm elections. In Ohio, the Democratic Senate candidate is Sherrod Brown, as Trump campaigned in the state less than a week before the election. Both parties have less than one week left to make their closing arguments to voters.1,2,4,5,8
