Trump

President Donald Trump has taken his midterm campaign blitz to Texas, where Senate candidate Ken Paxton is locked in a tight race against Democrat James Talarico. Republican strategists say Trump's Iran war is severely damaging party efforts to retain control of Congress as gasoline price hikes drive up costs across the economy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined Trump to show off a newly arrived oil tanker filled with Venezuelan crude to be processed in Texas refineries. Meanwhile, a federal judge in Los Angeles heard arguments over whether the Department of Justice can bar California from counting the ballots of some 20,000 people until it can confirm they are U.S. citizens.

President Donald Trump is in Texas for the third time in a month, aiming to block Democrats from winning their first statewide election in over three decades. Trump is supporting Republican Ken Paxton's Senate campaign against Democrat James Talarico. Talarico is also campaigning actively, ending his day in Lubbock. Democrat Gina Hinojosa is challenging GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, who seeks a fourth term. Trump is highlighting cultural issues and a military operation in Venezuela amid rising gas prices. Elon Musk has invested heavily in defeating Talarico, making the race one of the most expensive in the country.