Trump launches midterm campaign push in Texas and Oklahoma as Republicans face tough races
SPY•Trump begins a 32-day campaign blitz in Texas and Oklahoma as Republicans seek to hold slim congressional majorities in November’s midterm elections. Some Republican candidates are distancing themselves from him as voters express dissatisfaction with the economy.
1. Campaign push begins
Trump travels to Texas and Oklahoma on Thursday to begin a 32-day campaign blitz aimed at bolstering Republican candidates. Some Republicans in competitive House and Senate races have welcomed his campaign appearances, while others have broken with him on issues including the Iran war and data centers.
2. Texas Senate race
Texas is among eight Senate races rated competitive. Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton is expected to appear with Trump near Dallas. The event comes after a leaked recording in which Paxton told donors Trump’s September midterm convention hurt him and other Republican candidates; Paxton’s campaign called the recording “manipulated nonsense,” and Trump said he had not heard about it.
3. Economy and tariffs
Trump said Wednesday that he had done a bad job selling his economic record since returning to the White House in January 2025. At a visit to Peterbilt Motors in Denton, he is expected to tout his tariff and trade agenda. The White House said truck tariffs helped PACCAR add more than 2,000 jobs nationwide, including about 1,000 at its Texas plant. Diesel in Texas reached a record $5.97 per gallon two weeks ago, while average gas prices were up almost 44% from a year earlier, to $3.92 per gallon.
