Paxton Campaign Cuts Events
The Texas attorney general's team canceled three stops as attendance figures at recent rallies drew scrutiny and mockery.
By Hassan Bello ·
Ken Paxton’s campaign team canceled three scheduled appearances in El Paso, Texarkana, and Tyler this week. The moves follow a series of low-attendance rallies across West Texas that have intensified scrutiny of the Republican U.S. Senate contender's ability to energize voters.
The campaign attributed the cancellations to logistical adjustments and a rapid scheduling change that allowed Paxton to appear with Vice President JD Vance in Weatherford on Thursday. However, the timing coincided with online criticism of turnout numbers at recent stops.
In Odessa, Paxton spoke at Mama’s Kitchen on Wednesday. During a lengthy response regarding a lawsuit he won while serving as Texas attorney general, he received a single clap from the audience. Paxton acknowledged the moment directly, telling the crowd, “Thank you. Thank for you for that one clap.”
Social media users amplified the low turnout issues by sharing footage from a San Angelo event. Posts noted that only a few dozen supporters were present. A subsequent stop in Abilene reportedly drew an even smaller crowd, further fueling questions about the campaign's ground game.
JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, offered a contrasting view of the strategy. Ennis suggested the cancellations reflect a lack of genuine voter interest rather than logistical necessity. “No one’s going to Ken Paxton’s rallies, so he’s canceling them and hoping Elon Musk will buy his seat for him,” Ennis said in a statement.
Ennis continued by criticizing the campaign's reliance on external financial support. “His only volunteers are AI robots. His only donor is Elon Musk. And his only rally attendees are reporters forced to cover an empty room. Texas deserves a senator who shows up, not one that hides behind a pile of money,” he said.
The criticism centers on reports that Elon Musk has spent at least $168 million backing Paxton. This financial support has been viewed as a buffer against Paxton’s history of scandals and slow early fundraising. Despite the cancellations, Paxton’s team maintains its schedule includes a rally at the Alamo in San Antonio on Monday, Nov. 2.
Source: San Antonio Current
