Talarico Claims Paxton Cancels Rallies Due to Low Turnout; Photos Tell a Different Story

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico accused Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton of canceling rallies because of low attendance, a charge underscored by recent rally photos and videos. Talarico made the claim on Thursday during a CNN interview amid a competitive race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Paxton. The latest dispute comes as Paxton’s campaign postponed a rally in El Paso originally scheduled for November 1.

Paxton’s Canceled and Low-Attendance Rallies

Paxton’s team announced the El Paso rally cancellation citing scheduling and logistics. The event was slated for the Orca Event Center, which can accommodate 130 guests. This cancellation followed a series of rallies with varying attendance numbers. On October 28, Paxton held a rally at the Arc Light Bar & Grill in San Angelo. A video shared by MediasTouch on X showed only a few dozen supporters present in a room with a capacity of 120 seated or 200 standing, though the video’s timing within the event is unclear.

Earlier, on October 20, Paxton attracted about 300 people to a rally in Richmond near Houston, according to ABC13. On September 30, Paxton spoke to what The El Paso Times described as a “packed” crowd at the Summit Ballroom and Conference Center in El Paso, though the exact room capacity used remains uncertain. Paxton’s July 14 rally in McAllen was reported by his campaign to have 763 attendees but was contradicted by MyRGV.com, which estimated around 100 attendees, leading to accusations from Texas Democrats that Paxton’s team was inflating numbers.

Paxton’s largest crowds have come when President Donald Trump joined him. On October 27, Trump spoke to about 2,000 people at the Port of Corpus Christi warehouse rally. Later that day, at the Lubbock Civic Center, KCBD reported a crowd exceeding 15,000 people outside and over 5,000 inside.

Talarico’s Growing Rally Support

In contrast, Talarico has drawn notably larger crowds at his rallies. On October 29, he addressed roughly 2,600 supporters at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, a venue reportedly filled to standing room only. Fox News reporter Olivia Palombo shared photos confirming a packed venue.

On October 27, Talarico’s rally at the Fiesta Center in Lubbock attracted a crowd too large to fit inside. The campaign said 4,000 people registered and about 500 volunteered, while the Fiesta Center ballroom typically holds 2,600. KAMC reporter Jen Phillips noted the campaign aimed to extend capacity to 3,000. The Democratic Wins Media X account shared photos highlighting the contrast between Talarico’s packed rally and Trump’s rally with empty seats the same night in Lubbock.

Additionally, on October 25, Talarico spoke at the Santa Fe Event Center in Weslaco, further demonstrating his active campaign trail presence.

Talarico’s Accusations Against Paxton

During his Thursday CNN interview, Talarico said, “Ken Paxton is canceling rallies because nobody is showing up. He can’t recruit volunteers, so he uses AI bots. He doesn’t have any grassroots donors, so he’s relying on the richest man in the world to fund his campaign.” This statement highlights Talarico’s narrative of Paxton’s weakening grassroots support. The clip of this exchange, shared by journalist Aaron Rupar on X, garnered more than 173,000 views and over 10,000 likes.

The Texas Senate race is critical as Democrats aim to flip the Senate majority currently held by Republicans with 53 senators. A win in Texas would mark a historic shift, with Talarico potentially becoming the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Texas since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988. Recent polls show Talarico with a narrow lead, though results remain within the margin of error.

Campaign Responses and Outlook

Newsweek reached out to both Paxton’s and Talarico’s campaigns on Friday outside regular office hours and is awaiting their comments. The race remains highly competitive and closely watched as the November midterms approach, with each candidate striving to maximize voter engagement and turnout amid contrasting rally attendance figures.

As the campaigns continue, the visual evidence from recent rallies adds a tangible dimension to the claims and counterclaims about support levels in this pivotal Texas Senate race.

The November midterms carry significant weight for control of the Senate and the balance of power during President Donald Trump’s second term.