Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico opted out of attending a rally headlined by Senator Bernie Sanders in El Paso on Monday night. Instead, he focused on campaign events in North Texas as his race against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton enters its critical final weeks.
Senator Sanders appeared at the Abraham Chavez Theatre along with former Representative Beto O’Rourke and Democratic Representatives Greg Casar and Veronica Escobar. This event marked the beginning of early voting before the November 3 midterm elections. In contrast, Talarico held rallies in Fort Worth and Denton as part of his “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” campaign tour.
Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico’s campaign to inquire about his decision to campaign separately from other Democrats who were promoting his Senate bid at the El Paso event.
During the El Paso rally, O’Rourke highlighted the significant Republican campaign spending against Talarico, amounting to $368 million. He emphasized the desperation this spending reflects as Talarico aims to unseat current Republican officeholders.
Representative Greg Casar also expressed his support for Talarico, indicating that his election would boost Democrats’ legislative efforts. Senator Sanders, without mentioning Talarico by name, focused his criticism on the role of wealthy political donors in elections.
In Fort Worth, Talarico conveyed a similar message regarding financial influences in politics. He criticized both Ken Paxton and billionaire Elon Musk, addressing the impact of affluent donors in the Texas Senate race. He linked the “affordability crisis” to a “corruption crisis” and underscored that his candidacy transcends traditional party lines.
The Texas Senate seat is currently held by Republican Senator John Cornyn, who is set to vacate it. The race has attracted national interest as Democrats vie for their first Texas U.S. Senate win since 1988.
Bradford Betz, a Fox News Digital reporter, contributed to this report, focusing on crime, political issues, and more.
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