Paxton Campaign: Cancellations and Empty Rooms
At least three Texas rallies were scrapped as turnout dropped, with one stop in Odessa drawing a single clap.
By Marta Gray ·
Ken Paxton received one clap from a crowd at Mama’s Kitchen in Odessa on Wednesday, a moment that underscored the growing strain in his U.S. Senate campaign. The Republican attorney general was answering a question about a lawsuit he won when he served as state attorney general. After his response, he addressed the small audience directly. "Thank you. Thank for you for that one clap," Paxton said.
The sparse attendance in West Texas is part of a wider pattern. Paxton’s team canceled at least three scheduled events in the final days before the election. The scrapped stops included rallies in El Paso, Texarkana, and Tyler. The campaign cited logistical shifts and rapid scheduling changes for the cancellations. They also noted an opportunity to appear with Vice President JD Vance in Weatherford on Thursday.
Critics point to the numbers at the remaining events. Online posts noted that only a few dozen people attended a stop in San Angelo on Wednesday. A subsequent rally in Abilene that night reportedly drew even fewer attendees. The low turnout has intensified scrutiny on Paxton’s ability to energize voters in a competitive race.
James Talarico, the Democratic state representative challenging Paxton, used the cancellations to attack his rival’s financial backers. JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico, suggested the strategy reflects a reliance on outside money rather than grassroots support. "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. He added that Paxton’s volunteers are AI robots and his only donor is Musk. "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," Ennis said.
The focus on money stems from reports that Elon Musk spent at least $168 million supporting Paxton. Paxton’s campaign has faced challenges due to his history of scandals and early fundraising difficulties. Despite the recent cancellations, his team has confirmed plans for a rally in San Antonio on Monday, Nov. 2. The event will take place at the Alamo.
The race remains tight as both candidates push to close the deal with Texas voters in the final stretch. Paxton’s team continues to hold events in key locations to maintain visibility. Talarico’s campaign is capitalizing on the contrast in turnout numbers to define the race as a choice between personal engagement and financial power.
