Midland, Texas

President Trump traveled to Corpus Christi and Lubbock, Texas, to boost Ken Paxton's Senate bid against Democrat James Talarico, part of a final midterm push through traditionally Republican states. Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide in 32 years, but Talarico has gained traction amid Paxton's legal troubles. Elon Musk has poured significant money into stopping Talarico, a point Democrats are using to highlight wealthy influence in politics, echoing a parallel fight in the governor's race between Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the trip, fueling speculation about his 2028 ambitions, while Vance and Trump also focus on tight races in Michigan and Alaska.

On Nov. 3, Charleston County voters decide whether to extend, for a six-year term, the existing 1-cent sales tax funding school capital projects, a measure they have approved twice before since 2010. Dorchester County voters will consider adopting the tax for the first time, after a May law change made counties with exactly two school districts eligible. Dorchester Two and Dorchester Four would split revenue 85/15 over up to 15 years. Charleston's extension could generate about $1.25 billion; Dorchester's new tax could raise $688.2 million. Funds must go toward construction, renovations, and debt reduction, not salaries or operations, covering new schools, building replacements, and maintenance across both counties.

Salina, N.Y. voters will choose a new town supervisor after Democrat Raul Huerta, who unseated Nick Paro in a 2023 blue-wave win, opted not to seek re-election. The race pits Democrat Leesa Paul, a two-term town board member, against Republican David Stott, a former town councilor and county legislator making his first run as a Republican after decades as a Democrat. The town, with about 32,400 residents and a $20 million budget, has more registered Democrats than Republicans, though non-enrolled voters form a significant bloc.

Both candidates cite economic development, housing, and vacant commercial properties as priorities, while splitting on property reassessment, which Paul supports and Stott opposes. A key local issue is the ICE processing facility in Salina, which includes holding cells and has drawn repeated resident pressure at town board meetings over zoning authority and oversight; Paul favors waiting on legal review, while Stott considers it a lower priority than economic issues. Both support more housing amid demand tied to Micron Technology's planned arrival, though they diverge on data center development. Early voting begins Oct. 24, with Election Day Nov. 3.

The 2026 race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner features Republican Nate Sheets against Democrat Clayton Tucker, along with Libertarian candidate Kelly. Incumbent Sid Miller lost his primary bid to Sheets, a businessman and co-founder of Nature Nate's Honey who is backed by Gov. Greg Abbott and other prominent Texas Republicans. Sheets identifies with the MAHA movement and has focused his platform on clean food production, curbing tax breaks for data centers, rural economic development and stricter employment verification requirements.

Tucker, a rancher and Texas Farmers Union secretary with a background in trade justice advocacy, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Her platform emphasizes protecting family farms from data center expansion, lowering food costs, regulating chemicals like PFAS, and expanding hemp farming and agricultural co-ops. Libertarian candidate Kelly, an ecology consultant and lecturer, calls for cutting regulations, auditing the agriculture department and protecting property rights. The office oversees agribusiness regulation, rural economic development and disaster relief for the state's roughly 230,000 farms.

Texas voters will choose a new agriculture commissioner in 2026 after incumbent Sid Miller lost his Republican primary to Nate Sheets, a honey-business owner backed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Sheets faces Democratic nominee Clayton Tucker, a longtime party campaign organizer with no primary opposition, and Libertarian candidate Austin R. Kelly in the general election.

The office oversees the Texas Department of Agriculture, which regulates cattle, grain, pesticides, hemp and organic operations, administers the National School Lunch Program, and supports rural economic development and disaster relief. Sheets has raised significantly more money than Tucker, drawing large donations from Abbott-aligned PACs, the Texas Farm Bureau and individual businessmen. Tucker's funding includes a notable contribution from musician Don Henley. Kelly's campaign has raised minimal funds. With agriculture as Texas' second-largest industry and the state a top national exporter, the race carries stakes for farmers and ranchers navigating climate pressures, labor shortages and supply chain issues.

Sid Miller's primary loss sets up a Sheets-Tucker-Kelly race for Texas agriculture commissioner in 2026.