Overview
- Trump, who spoke to reporters Friday aboard Air Force One, attacked Democratic nominee James Talarico over past remarks on gender and veganism.
- He declined to endorse either Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton, saying he likes both and that either would easily beat Talarico.
- Opponents point to a 2022 video where Talarico called his bid a “non-meat campaign,” while he denies being vegan and highlights photos of himself eating meat.
- Polling cited by the Austin American-Statesman shows a close Cornyn–Paxton runoff and hypothetical general-election matchups where Talarico holds single-digit leads.
- Barack Obama’s surprise stop with Talarico in Austin drew fresh national attention to a race Republicans have won for three decades at the statewide level.