LUBBOCK, Texas — Two rallies, two crowds and two very different visions for Texas converged in deep-red Lubbock on Tuesday night as Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico made their cases to voters.
Trump supporters camped out at Lubbock’s Civic Center as early as Monday night, calling the event a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” About four miles away, roughly 4,000 Talarico supporters descended on the neighborhood around the Fiesta Center.
The rallies put Lubbock’s political identity on display. Long a ruby-red Republican stronghold, the city is now a battleground in a Senate race in which polls show Talarico narrowly leading Paxton.
Outside Paxton’s rally, supporters remained confident the Lone Star State would stay red.
Jenny, who traveled from Brownsville, dismissed the idea that the race was close.
“What else do the Democrats have? They have Talarico going against Paxton,” she told Fox News Digital. “All they’ve got is the ability to try and make people think that it’s close and there is no point in voting.”
“No, it’s not close,” Jenny added. “Paxton is going to wipe the floor with him.”
MEET THE VOTERS WHO COULD BREAK THE GOP’S DECADESLONG GRIP ON A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD
Eric, a Lubbock resident, also predicted a Republican win, saying Democratic policies do not align with his views.
“Most of the Democrats that you talk to, when you start talking common sense to them, a lot of them, they don’t know if it’s a red or a blue policy, and a lot of them line up with red as well,” he said. “It’s gonna stay red, absolutely.”
Nathan, from Milton, said he wants to preserve what he sees as Texas’ traditional values, including gun rights and opposition to abortion.
“I want to make sure we are keeping all the normal values that we have in Texas,” he said. “I want to make sure that we are keeping our guns, we are keeping our safety, keeping abortion as far away from Texas and do everything we can to keep Texas, Texas.”
Across town, Talarico supporters said Trump’s appearance alongside Paxton showed Republicans were worried about losing ground in a reliably red state.
“Trump’s in Lubbock? Trump’s in Lubbock, Texas? He’s scared, he is scared,” one supporter told Fox News Digital.
Natalie, from Friona, also viewed the same-day rallies as a sign of nervousness.
“I think they have to be nervous, and I think it’s performative, like to come the exact same day as he is here,” she said. “I really hope so, and looking at all of this, I think it is.”
DEEP IN TRUMP COUNTRY, A NEW GENERATION REVEALS THE DIVIDE BEHIND TEXAS’ TIGHT SENATE RACE
Elias, a Lubbock resident, said Paxton’s reliance on Trump reflected poorly on the Republican candidate. He pointed to Paxton’s past controversies and impeachment by the Texas House.
“I think it shows that Paxton is a weak leader,” Elias said. “He had a chance to kind of redeem himself despite his ugly past, but he’s not a man, he can’t stand up for himself. He needs daddy Trump to come and support him.”
Other Talarico supporters said they believed Texas could turn blue. Jessica, from Lubbock, and Shelby, from Houston, cited dissatisfaction with how the state has been run in recent years.
“I think they’re scared that it is going to flip, and I believe it will because of how they have run this county the last few years,” they said.
Christine and John, both from Lubbock, also predicted change. “They are nervous, and this is the year we are going to change it all,” Christine said.
Paloma, a Lubbock resident, put their optimism plainly: “This is the year that we flip blue. We are definitely going to flip the state.”