# Talarico Skips Sanders Rally as Senate Race Tightens

> Talarico skips Sanders Texas rally as Senate polling lead narrows.
- Title: Talarico Skips Sanders Rally as Senate Race Tightens
- Summary: Talarico skips Sanders Texas rally as Senate polling lead narrows. Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not attend Bernie Sanders' Texas rally as…
- Keywords: james talarico, bernie sanders, ken paxton, texas senate, democratic party, senate polling, early voting, Talarico, Skips, Sanders, Rally, Senate
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/talarico-to-skip-bernie-sanders-texas-rally-as-senate-polling-lead-tightens-12569008
- Published: 2026-10-14T18:50:44+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: james talarico, bernie sanders, ken paxton, texas senate, democratic party, senate polling, early voting
## Talarico skips Sanders rally
Democratic Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico will not attend Bernie Sanders' rally in El Paso on Monday, October 19.

> Talarico won't attend, his campaign told The New York Times on Wednesday.
## Polling shows narrow lead
A Marist poll found Talarico leading Paxton 47 percent to 45 percent among likely voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

> Talarico held a four-point lead among registered voters, down from six points a month earlier.
## Talarico's moderate strategy
Talarico has focused on economic issues and shifted positions to appeal to Republicans and independents while distancing himself from socialist labels.

> He calls himself a capitalist and rejects the socialist label Republicans have hung on him.
## Vance criticizes Talarico
Vice President JD Vance called Talarico a threat to Texas' way of life and accused him of losing his mind.

> James Talarico needs to take a week or two to get his own head examined because he's lost his damn mind.
## Paxton's campaign challenges
Paxton criticized Talarico's absence at Trump's San Antonio rally and claimed he hid behind the flu.

> Where do you think they hid that little socialist?
## Race dynamics shift
Talarico has led in 15 of the last 16 polls and outraised Paxton in ZIP codes that previously backed Trump.

> It's still Texas. Still a very tough state for the Democrats.
## Early voting timeline
Early voting runs October 19 through October 30 with Election Day on November 3.

> Early voting runs October 19 through October 30. Election Day is November 3.
## Historical context
Democrats have not won a Senate race in Texas since 1988 with recent candidates like O'Rourke and Allred losing by margins of 2.6 to 8.5 points.

> In 2018, Beto O'Rourke came within about 2.6 points of Senator Ted Cruz.
## Talarico's campaign strategy
Talarico has shifted on past positions including transgenders athletes and energy policy to appeal to a broader coalition.

> I've missed the mark on some of my past statements. I will be the first to admit it.
## Race implications
Talarico's lead has narrowed since mid-September with ad spending exceeding $500 million, potentially making it the most expensive nonpresidential race in U.S. history.

> Ad spending in the contest has passed $500 million, and it could become the most expensive nonpresidential race in U.S. history.
## Key takeaway

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not attend Bernie Sanders' Texas rally as new polling shows his lead over Republican Ken Paxton shrinking.