On Tuesday, Oct. 27, President Trump addressed a packed audience at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, a rally that local media say highlighted Lubbock’s importance in the closely watched U.S. Senate contest between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat State Rep. James Talarico.
KFYO noted that the event was “packed” and provided live coverage of the President’s speech, noting that it was the first presidential visit to Lubbock in nearly 30 years since George H.W. Bush. The President arrived at 6:30 p.m. after a lineup that included U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington and Brandon Gill, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and other state leaders.
According to Lubbock Lights, an estimated 15,000 people lined up around the Civic Center, with about 5,000 gaining entry to the exhibit hall, which has a maximum capacity of 4,914. The outlet estimated roughly 10,000 supporters were turned away. Attendees described a sense of community while waiting, with sisters Kim Owens and Laura Survant sharing folding chairs and meeting other locals, including a young father who worked at The Cheesecake Factory.
President Trump used the platform to campaign for Paxton, calling him “the greatest attorney general in the history of Texas” and urging voters to turn out to protect his tax cuts and agenda. He praised Lubbock’s cotton industry, calling the city the “cotton capital of the world,” and lauded Texas Tech, naming former receiver Danny Amendola and highlighting the school’s role in the ongoing name, image, and likeness debate.
Across town, Rep. Talarico held a rally at the Fiesta Center beginning around 7 p.m. He reported on social media that 4,000 people attended his event. Newsweek cited a Talarico claim of 4,000 attendees and noted that the Fiesta Center ballroom seats up to 2,600, with officials planning to stretch capacity to 3,000. A reporter for The Amarillo Tribune estimated that President Trump’s rally also drew around 4,000 attendees, filling the Civic Center’s exhibit hall.
Recent polling cited by Newsweek shows a competitive Senate race. A Univision‑YouGov survey of 1,000 registered voters (Oct. 13‑21) gave Talarico 50% support to Paxton’s 45% (±3.8%). An ActiVote poll of 400 likely voters (Oct. 17‑21) had Talarico ahead 51% to 49% (±4.9%). Other surveys from Verasight, Emerson College/Nexstar, and the Texas Tribune similarly placed Talarico in a narrow lead. The polls reflect a snapshot of voter sentiment as the campaign heads into its final week.
What’s next: With one week left before Election Day, Lubbock voters will head to the polls later this month to decide the Senate seat, a race that could influence control of the U.S. Senate.
Sources: kfyo.com, lubbocklights.com, newsweek.com
