Trump’s Texas two-step: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today’s edition, we dig into yet another visit to Texas from the president. Plus, Andrea Mitchell examines what has — and hasn’t — happened since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. — Adam Wollner Trump’s Texas two-step By Adam Wollner President Donald Trump is making his second trip in the past week to Texas tonight, highlighting how the midterm fight has shifted traditionally red terrain in the final stretch. He’s set to rally in San Antonio for state Attorney General Ken Paxton and congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz.

Paxton remains locked in a tight and expensive battle with Democrat James Talarico. And De La Cruz’s race in the 35th District, which was redrawn in the redistricting process last year to be more favorable to Republicans, has been more competitive than expected. While Trump would have carried the district under its new lines by 10 points in 2024, the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates the race as “lean Republican.” Notably absent from tonight’s rally? Gov. Greg Abbott, who cited a scheduling conflict.“Well, first, whenever he does show up, it leads to excitement among the base,