Vance Stumps for Paxton in Weatherford as Early Vote Gaps Persist

Vice President JD Vance appeared before supporters in Weatherford on Wednesday to press the case for keeping the Texas Senate seat in Republican hands.

Vance called the contest one of the marquee races of the cycle. "I believe Texas is one of the most important Senate races in America," he said, adding, "Let's give it up for Ken Paxton." He told the crowd, "Texas ain't surrendering! Texas is not becoming California. It's going to stay Texas, ain't that right?"

The remarks came amid warnings from within the party about early voting numbers. Texas Comptroller Don Huffines, who is on the ballot this year, addressed the rally about GOP participation. "Right now, it is not going well," Huffines said. "You need to know that. You need to be scared."

Ryan Data and Research reported that through Tuesday, more than 800,000 people with a history of voting in one of the past four Republican primaries had not yet voted. The same research showed nearly 71,000 more people who had cast ballots statewide through Tuesday had a history of voting in the Democratic primary than in the Republican primary. That gap fell to nearly 57,000 through Wednesday's early vote.

Paxton is running against Democrat James Talarico, who has led most polls for months. Vance called Talarico "a weirdo" and "an empty suit" during the Weatherford event. Talarico, speaking at a rally in Lubbock on Tuesday, said, "This isn't a partisan thing." He added, "Republicans know just as well as Democrats that there is no place for guys like Ken Paxton in Texas. That's why these two parties that don't seem to agree on anything these days came together to impeach the most corrupt politician in our state."

Vance and President Trump have each visited Texas four times since mid-September, including the RNC's first-ever midterm convention, to back Paxton and turn out Republican voters. Trump spoke in Corpus Christi on Tuesday. "Go out and vote. We don't want any surprises," he said.

Republican consultant Vinny Minchillo, who has clients across the country, said the vice president had work to do with GOP voters. "He's got to get them to come out, and he's got to express to them the importance of this election," Minchillo said. He said the vice president should keep reminding voters of what Republicans have delivered, adding, "If we lose the Senate and the House, those things are all going to go backwards."

Vance told the Weatherford crowd the stakes were high. "I need you to send a message on November 3rd," he said, "that America belongs to those who love it, not to those who hate it."

Republicans are trying to close the gap and overtake Democrats in early voting. Absent a shift, the party would need heavy turnout on election day. Early voting in Texas runs through Oct. 30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.