By ADDISON MARTIN/Staff Writer and MATEUS FERRIERA/Editor-In-Chief
Photos by JINJER ROYCE/Staff
Vice President JD Vance urged Texans to support Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton and criticized his Democratic opponent, James Talarico, during a campaign rally at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport on Tuesday, as Republicans aim to build voter support ahead of the midterm elections.
Talarico’s victory could dramatically shift the balance of power in Congress, while a Paxton victory would extend Republicans’ 38-year hold on the Senate seat. Recent polling shows Talarico and Paxton tied at 45% support.
Vance touted Paxton’s long track record of suing the Biden administration, as well as pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley.
“In Texas, that’s why you keep on reelecting him. You know where he stands, and you know who he fights for, fights for the state of Texas,” said Vance.
While framing Paxton as a defender of Texas values, Vance portrayed Talarico as a radical leftist.
Vance criticized Talarico by bringing up his past comments on religion and gender. Vance also criticized the representative’s comments on transgender children.
“(When asked) what he loves in life, besides his own family and friends, and he responded without skipping a beat, and I quote, ‘trans children,” said Vance. ”Now you got to wonder what the internet search history of a man like that looks like. Ladies and gentlemen, you don’t want to find out. Neither do I”
He added that Talarico planned to weaken policing and immigration enforcement. Vance claimed the representative would hinder the oil industry in the name of environmental concerns while portraying Paxton as a supporter of current energy initiatives.
“If he goes to the United States Senate, he’s gonna spend every single day trying to shove left-wing ideology down the throat of this country,” said Vance. “Talarico may pretend to be a moderate in his TV advertisements, but ladies and gentlemen, we know from his record that he is a fake, and he is a fraud. On no issue will he ever dissent from AOC, or Rashida Tlaib, or Chuck Schumer, and the rest of the crazies. He is plotting to seize power, and he needs your vote to do it.”
Vance also announced the expansion of the Delek oil refinery in Tyler for commercial- and military-grade oil production. This comes as polling shows that high oil prices stemming from the U.S.-Iran war remain a major concern for voters.
Vance said the deal would bring hundreds of jobs to Tyler while providing more opportunities for young people.
Outside the airport, demonstrators held up signs protesting the Trump administration’s foreign and immigration policies. Inside the rally, two protesters began heckling the vice president, accusing the administration of “defending pedophiles,” before being removed by security.
“So I’m definitely voting to keep Texas red,” said Lauren Snyder, who plans to vote for Paxton. “I want Republicans to stay in power. I don’t think they’re perfect, but I still think they’re the party that represents the people.”
There are a lot of people in this country currently being screwed by the Republican party currently in office. Which people do Republicans represent ? I’m an unaffiliated voter. Both sides can be quite radicalized, our country ideally needs politicians NOT run by the Anerican dollar.