Texas Shaken by an 'Odd-Looking Guy': Republican Stronghold Emerges as Battleground

"He is an odd-looking fellow. I do not like talking about appearances, but he feels a bit lacking somewhere."

On the night of the 9th (local time), the first day of the U.S. Republican midterm convention, President Donald Trump took the stage and made these remarks, prompting jeers from the audience directed at the "odd-looking fellow."

He was referring to James Talarico (37), the Democratic candidate challenging for the U.S. Senate seat from Texas in the upcoming midterm elections in early November.

After entering politics in 2018 as a Texas state representative, he was practically unknown until skyrocketing to stardom by running in this Senate race.

He has emerged as a figure who is chasing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (63)—backed by President Trump and the staunch MAGA (Make America Great Again) base—and turning Texas, long considered a Republican stronghold, into a battleground.

For President Trump, keeping Texas is all the more desperate because he pushed aside Senator John Cornyn, who held an "incumbency advantage" and was projected for a stable victory, to handpick Paxton.

If Talarico defeats Paxton and wins the Senate seat, it would be a monumental event that shakes the Republican Party to its core.

Texas has been a conservative stronghold of strongholds, having consistently chosen Republican presidential candidates ever since Ronald Reagan in 1980.

In Senate races as well, it has voted exclusively for Republican candidates consecutively since 1990.

Gubernatorial races have also been won by Republicans continuously starting with George W. Bush in 1994.

In such a state of Texas, consecutive recent polls show Talarico narrowly leading.

Drawing on his background as a former seminary student, his approach to voters in the heavily Christian state of Texas by emphasizing "love and inclusion for one's neighbor" has proven highly effective.

There are high expectations for Talarico's strong performance in major metropolitan areas in Texas with strong Democratic support, such as Dallas.

Laura, a white woman in her 40s who is a registered Democrat, praised him, saying, "If Texas turns 'blue' (controlled by Democrats), it would be revolutionary. Talarico resonates with people. He reflects traditional Texas values like looking after your neighbors and investing in the community."

Laura sharpened her criticism, stating, "Trump is out of touch and acting like a king. Having belonged to the privileged class his entire life, he has zero interest in what life is like for Americans or what freedom means."

The fact that Paxton is a "vulnerable candidate" entangled in various allegations, including public funds misuse and extramarital affairs, is also a headache-inducing factor for the Republican Party.

Bonnie, a Republican met at the convention, said, "I know there is a lot of talk about Paxton. But we are voting for Trump. I tell my friends around me who do not like Paxton, 'Vote for Trump.'"

It is no coincidence that President Trump targeted Texas while planning the very first midterm convention in history.

The outcome of the Texas Senate race could deal a critical blow to whether the Republican Party can maintain its slim Senate majority while potentially influencing the 2028 presidential election.

If a "blue wave" begins in Texas and spreads to other strongholds, it could become a fuse that jeopardizes the Republican support base.

In fact, the process of Texas transforming from a Republican stronghold into a battleground has unfolded over a long period.

As businesses and populations poured in due to low taxes and regulations, Democratic support in suburban areas grew stronger.

A trend is also appearing where Hispanic voters in Texas, who heavily leaned toward President Trump in the 2024 presidential election, are turning their backs amid rising inflation and aggressive immigration crackdowns.

Divisions within the Republican Party surrounding the influx of big tech and the construction of data centers are also prominently manifesting in Texas.

As Texas residents' backlash against data center construction grows, Governor Greg Abbott and Paxton have stepped in to adjust the pace, while President Trump publicly criticized this as a "mistake," showing persistent missteps that remain unresolved.

On the 10th, the final day of the convention, the Republican Party appeared to pull out all the stops for victory in the midterms—including defending Texas—by putting a large lineup on stage, including President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The Democrats held a counter-protest near American Airlines Center, where the convention is taking place.

Around 100 participants marched through downtown holding signs reading "Impeach Trump" and "Trump Is Not a King," briefly clashing with Trump supporters.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.