President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance made a trip to Texas this week, and the Republican effort to appeal to Latino voters is drawing attention in the state’s midterms. That’s the lead item on this week’s episode of Party Politics, where co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina examined the visit, the campaign’s taxpayer-funded advertising, and the political battles still shaping the November election.
The hosts also dug into the U.S. Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, the Texas governor’s race between Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa, and the fallout from a voter fraud case that recently got overturned. Each of those races carries its own set of questions about who wins in November.
Trump and Vance in Texas
Trump and Vance arrived in Texas this week, and their visit draws attention to the Republican effort to appeal to Latino voters. The trip comes as both parties push toward the midterms.
The hosts examined the Trump administration’s taxpayer-funded campaign advertising, which has been a point of dispute throughout the campaign season. They also looked at the role of political messaging heading into the midterms, with both sides trying to shape the final stretch before Election Day.
Paxton and Talarico Face Off
The Senate race between Paxton and Talarico has been one of the races examined in this episode. The two candidates have clashed over the federal gas tax, with each side arguing over how to handle the cost of driving.
Paxton has also faced questions about his support of super PACs. The hosts examined that support and what it means for the race.
One notable moment came when Paxton was caught on microphone saying the midterm convention did not help his campaign. The hosts discussed that admission as part of their look at the race’s broader dynamics.
Abbott’s Diesel Disaster Declaration
Abbott issued a disaster declaration over diesel prices, and the hosts examined what that move could mean politically and economically. The hosts also looked at the governor’s race between Abbott and Hinojosa.
Divisions Within the Democratic Party
The hosts turned to divisions within the Democratic Party and a recently overturned voter fraud case, adding another layer to the ongoing debate over elections and voting in Texas. The case’s overturning changes the legal landscape for candidates and voters alike.
The discussion added to the conversation about how elections are run in the state.
The Full Slate of Texas Races
The episode runs through a full slate of Texas races, from the Senate contest to the governor’s race to the voter fraud case. The hosts examined each one in turn, offering a look at where things stand across the state.
| Race | Candidates | Key Issue |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | Ken Paxton (R) vs. James Talarico (D) | Federal gas tax, super PACs |
| Texas Governor | Greg Abbott (R) vs. Gina Hinojosa (D) | Diesel disaster declaration |
| Voter fraud | Overturned case | Elections and voting |
How to Follow Party Politics
Party Politics airs on television every Friday night at 8:00pm on Houston Public Media TV-8 (PBS), and listeners can catch the radio broadcast every Friday at 7:30pm on News 88.7. The audio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts).
Fans can join the conversation using the hashtag #PartyPoliticsPod or by emailing partypoliticspod@houstonpublicmedia.org.
The episode moves quickly through a crowded field of Texas races, touching on everything from the Senate contest to the governor’s race to the voter fraud case. The hosts examine each race in turn, offering a look at where things stand across the state.
The show offers a useful snapshot of where things stand in the final stretch before Election Day. It does not settle any race, but it lays out the stakes clearly.
For voters following the midterms, the episode serves as a guide to what matters most in Texas this fall. The races covered here will determine which party controls the Senate and the governor’s office, and the political battles surrounding them are far from settled.
The hosts make clear that the fight for Latino votes, the use of taxpayer-funded advertising, and the legal battles over elections all sit together in the final push to November. That is the road to the Texas midterms, and the hosts are charting it week by week.
The takeaway from this week’s episode is simple: the midterms are coming, and Texas is the place to watch. The candidates, campaigns and political battles shaping the final march to Election Day are all on display, and the hosts are doing their job of explaining what is at stake.
Source material: “The Road to the Texas Midterms,” Houston Public Media.
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