Republican Ken Paxton brought his bus tour to Abilene last night, October 28, 2026, with less than a week to go before Election Day. It was Paxton’s first visit to Abilene this campaign season.
About 200 people packed into Betty Rose’s Little Brisket to see the Republican Senate candidate. Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, the Senate’s second-ranking Republican, introduced him and told the crowd that control of the Senate could come down to Texas.
When Paxton got up, he addressed the topic that voters say is most important this election season: affordability, “My agenda is very simple. I’ll fight so that every Texan can buy a home, raise a family, and live a healthy life without struggling to make ends meet.”
Paxton promised a $50,000 tax deduction for home down payments and a $25,000 deduction for out-of-pocket medical bills. He also wants to double the child tax credit.
He also spent a big part of the speech going after Talarico, calling him the most radical Democrat ever to run statewide.
Among those who came to hear from Paxton was Ross Fairchild. He said his vote is about Paxton’s ties to President Donald Trump because, “He follows Trump, and we’re Trump followers. Conservative. That’s what we are.”
Fairchild said the controversies around Paxton don’t bother him, and he pointed out that the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton at his 2023 impeachment trial.
But for voter Richard Darden it’s about the issues, “I connect with education. I connect with security, safety. I connect with family growth, community growth, and also America being safe.” Darden said he didn't know enough about the scandals attributed to Paxton to have an opinion.
To close out the night, Paxton asked everyone in the room to vote early and to bring a friend.
Early voting ends Friday, October 30, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
