Talarico and Hinojosa close Texas campaign at Austin rally
The two top Democratic candidates addressed a full crowd at Stubb's on Monday, framing their bids as a challenge to wealthy donors ahead of Tuesday's election.
By Adriana Abebe ·
James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa delivered their final joint message to voters from an outdoor music venue in Austin on Monday night. The rally served as the capstone to a campaign that has seen both candidates compete closely with incumbent Republican leaders in a state that has not elected a Democrat to a statewide office since 1994.
Talarico, the U.S. Senate candidate, described his race as a David-and-Goliath battle. He pointed to Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as the primary funder of his opponent Ken Paxton's campaign. The mention of Musk drew boos from the audience. Talarico told the crowd that the people of Texas would serve as their slingshot against the billionaire influence.
“Austin, you are my slingshot. The people of Texas are my slingshot,” Talarico said. He added that the next day, the opposition would not expect the result. He urged voters to send a message to the world's first trillionaire that Texas is not for sale.
Hinojosa, who is challenging Gov. Greg Abbott, focused her remarks on what she calls the “Greg Abbott corruption tax.” She framed the contest as a struggle between everyday Texans and wealthy donors. She asked the audience to chant along as she emphasized that the race is neck and neck. “It is the fight to decide who does Texas belong to,” Hinojosa said.
Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat running for state comptroller, also spoke at the event. She noted that after 329 days on the campaign trail, she believes Texans do not want state government dictating their reading choices, bathroom usage, or prayer practices.
The venue, Stubb's, reached its capacity of roughly 2,000 people. Supporters began lining up two hours before the scheduled start, creating a queue that stretched for blocks. Penny Gallagher, a 22-year-old legislative staffer, waited 20 minutes for a spot near the stage. She said she met Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of the 36th president, while in line.
The rally follows a weekend where Talarico and Hinojosa campaigned together in Houston and San Antonio. Travis County early voting turnout exceeded 47%, while Williamson County saw nearly half of registered voters cast ballots. Abbott and Paxton returned to the Houston area on Monday to boost Republican turnout, with Abbott defending laws regarding gender transitions in schools and land ownership by noncitizens.
