Trump Rallies in Texas for Paxton as Senate Race Tightens and Paxton's Personal Life Draws Attention
Photo: The New York TimesPresident Donald Trump held a double-header of rallies in Texas on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, to boost Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, who is in a tight race with Democratic state Rep. James Talarico of Austin. Most polls this month have shown Paxton trailing in a traditionally red state, and Republicans fear the seat is at risk. At the first rally, in Corpus Christi, Trump pointed to the tanker Angerona, docked nearby, and said it carried 1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil supplied at no cost to taxpayers. He noted that he ordered US forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January and announced a deal in August giving the US a fifth of Venezuela's oil. Paxton has been impeached and faces long-standing ethics accusations, including from within his party. Gas prices linked to the war with Iran are also hurting Republicans on the ballot. Separately, Paxton has stayed silent about his relationship with Tracy Duhon, a New Orleans woman known for a faith-and-redemption brand.
The left-leaning New York Times centers on Paxton's personal life. Its piece profiles Duhon, stresses that Paxton has said nothing about their relationship, and, in the excerpt available, leaves out the rallies, oil and polling. The right-leaning Daily Mail leads with Trump's Texas events and the oil announcement, adding Venezuela background, Paxton's poll deficit and gas prices. Its headline casts Trump's effort as a final rescue attempt amid Republican fears. Both sides treat Paxton as a politically vulnerable candidate, but one looks at his private relationships and the other at campaign strategy and national headwinds. Independent outlet Reason takes a distinct angle, weighing whether Paxton can survive impeachment, ethics accusations and Trump's lukewarm remarks about his appearance, and hinting at another unnamed obstacle.
How the sides differ Left sources focus on Paxton's private relationship and silence; right sources stress Trump's rally, Venezuelan oil pledge and GOP worries; alternative sources examine Paxton's ethics baggage.
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The New York Times profiles Tracy Duhon, a New Orleans influencer with a faith-and-redemption brand, and notes that Paxton has been silent about their relationship, focusing on his personal life.
Reason asks whether Paxton can survive a Senate race after impeachment and ethics accusations, opening with Trump's rally remarks about Paxton and Ohio Sen. Jon Husted and Talarico's poll leads.
The Daily Mail leads with Trump's two Texas rallies and his Venezuelan oil announcement, citing his own remarks, Paxton's poll deficit, high gas prices and Republican alarm.