From The Texas Tribune · Texas Tribune Staff · · 4m
Trump closes a Dallas convention built around Ken Paxton
Two days in Dallas where Republicans roasted their own Senate nominee, called Democrats communists, and Democrats set up shop across the street.
In brief
Two days in Dallas where Republicans roasted their own Senate nominee, called Democrats communists, and Democrats set up shop across the street. The GOP's Texas convention was a loyalty test built around one vulnerable Senate candidate, and the party's answer to his weaknesses was to mock him and vote for him anyway…
Trump closes with a roast
Ending the two-day Dallas convention, Trump repeated his routine mocking Ken Paxton's clothes, looks and speaking style, this time with cameras cutting to Paxton in the crowd.
“I don't know if he's going to ever speak to me again, but you know, I don't care as long as he wins.”
A vote is all he wants
Trump made the calculation explicit. Paxton's job is not to be liked, it is to be a reliable Senate vote for the administration's agenda.
“He's going to vote the way we would vote, so I don't have to speak to him.”
Vance goes after Talarico
In the keynote, JD Vance suggested without evidence that Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico's browser history would be disturbing, framing him as fixated on transgender kids.
“I never wanna see that guy's web browser history. It's not a good place.”
The "six genders" attack line
Vance recycled old Talarico quotes about gender and God that Republicans use to paint him as too liberal for Texas, and credited Trump with the "Talafreako" nickname.
“This Talarico guy will not shut up about how there are six genders.”
Talarico walks it back
A Presbyterian seminarian, Talarico has called some past remarks "cringey." He says he does not believe there are six biological sexes, and that "God is nonbinary" meant God is beyond gender.
Abbott's framing: common sense
Greg Abbott cast November as a choice between common sense and crazy, running through sanctuary cities, defunding police and land purchases by foreign entities.
“Together, we are going to demolish the Democrats. We are going to keep Texas red.”
A promise on sharia law
Abbott said he designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and pledged Texas would fully ban sharia law without waiting on Washington.
“We are not waiting on Washington, D.C. We will fully ban sharia law in Texas.”
He still won't say her name
Abbott is chasing a fourth term against Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who trails narrowly in recent polls. He attacked "Democrats running statewide" without naming her once from the stage.
Cruz names an enemy
Ted Cruz described Democrats as a "red-green alliance" of communists and Islamists, tying together 9/11, the killing of Charlie Kirk and the attempts on Trump's life.
“They hate Christians. They hate Jews. They hate capitalism. They hate the Constitution, and they hate America.”
Paint them all the same
Cruz admitted not every congressional Democrat is a socialist, then argued the whole party should be tarred anyway. His speech read like an early 2028 stump.
“That's where the money and the energy and the young people are in the Democrat Party.”
The $5,000 wrinkle
Speaker after speaker warned of socialist redistribution. Trump had promised Wednesday to send $5,000 to every adult citizen if the GOP keeps its Washington trifecta, roughly $1.3 trillion.
Patrick makes it biblical
Dan Patrick cast the midterm as light against dark and called Democrats godless communists. He named Talarico once and never mentioned Paxton at all.
“It's about those of us who love God and those who want to kick God out of our country.”
South Texas gets a pitch
Eric Flores and Tano Tijerina, both chasing Democratic-held seats, leaned entirely on the border even with crossings at historic lows, crediting Trump for securing it.
“South Texas is done being taken for granted!”
Paxton sells an economic plan
Paxton's six-and-a-half minute speech offered tax breaks for housing and healthcare, permanent Trump investment accounts and a doubled child tax credit.
“Everywhere I go, I meet Texans working harder than ever but still worried that they will never get ahead.”
Outraised three to one
Paxton called Talarico the most radical Democrat in Texas history and the best funded. Talarico raised $30 million last quarter against Paxton's $9 million.
“Today I need your prayers, your votes and your support.”
The Epstein reading room
Talarico appeared with Epstein survivors at a Dallas exhibit and demanded Paxton sue the Justice Department over its handling of the files. Paxton did not answer the invitation.
“Ken Paxton has two choices: He can stand with these survivors and get justice, or he can continue to cover up Jeffrey Epstein's abuse.”
Paxton's counterpunch
His campaign pointed at the $11.5 million a pro-Talarico super PAC took from Reid Hoffman, whose ties to Epstein drew scrutiny. Talarico's team notes coordination is barred by federal law.
Embrace, don't distance
With Trump's approval underwater even in Texas, four of five Republicans in battleground House seats showed up anyway. Carlos De La Cruz called the idea of keeping distance "hogwash."
“He's our president. I admire our president.”
Everyone runs on groceries
De La Cruz says gas, groceries and energy cost too much, the same complaint Democrats make. The fight is over who gets blamed, Biden's record or two years of Republican control.
“Washington became a telenovela and every working family paid for each episode.”
Democrats work the street
JB Pritzker and state chair Kendall Scudder opened a counter-programming run in Dallas, while Talarico's grocery drive collected 20,000 pounds of food against $20,000 convention tickets.
“This bizarre Republican midterm convention here can't paper over the fact that Republicans have done nothing to earn your vote.”
The essence
The GOP's Texas convention was a loyalty test built around one vulnerable Senate candidate, and the party's answer to his weaknesses was to mock him and vote for him anyway.
