Trump Moves to Virtual Rallies as Texas Senate Race Intensifies

Trump is swapping in‑person rallies for a series of virtual calls as the midterm weekend approaches. The president will join six tele‑rallies on Saturday after a morning round of golf in West Palm Beach, Florida. The White House gave few details, but Trump has used such calls instead of his usual 90‑minute speeches. In Texas, the U.S. Senate race has turned into a final‑weekend sprint. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who beat Sen. John Cornyn earlier this year with Trump’s backing, warned voters in Fort Worth that a Democratic win would restore “radical” ideas in Washington. Paxton said the election will “go down to the wire” and urged Republicans to match the early‑voting turnout shown by Democrats. Democrat state legislator James Talarico planned a rally in Houston on Saturday, positioning himself as the alternative to Paxton’s far‑left label. Early voting totals across several states were nearing 50 million as the weekend began. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigned in Virginia’s 2nd District with former Rep. Elaine Luria. Jeffries pledged an “affordable America,” promised votes to reverse health‑care cuts, pass voting‑rights legislation, and limit Trump’s actions on Iran. He singled out Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, saying Democrats would try to “run him out of town” if they win the House.

Context

Midterm elections often see candidates shift tactics in the final days, and virtual rallies have become a common way for national figures to reach voters without traveling. Texas’s Senate contest is viewed as a bellwether for voter mood toward Trump’s influence.