Trump Comes to San Antonio, and Texas Republicans Are Nervous
Supporters began lining up at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday outside San Antonio’s Freeman Coliseum. By evening, President Donald Trump was inside, urging a roaring crowd to treat him as if he were on the ballot.
The line was telling. A president doesn’t make three Texas trips in under a month to defend a state that is safe.
A Senate race Republicans didn’t plan for
Trump came to boost two candidates who owe their political rise to him: Senate nominee Ken Paxton and Carlos De La Cruz, who is running in the newly drawn 35th Congressional District.
Both now face tougher races than expected.
Paxton trails Democrat James Talarico in recent polling. A New York Times/Siena survey put Talarico up 51% to 45%, with Hispanic voters favoring him by roughly two to one.
A Fox News poll found Texans disapproving of Trump’s job performance, 55% to 44%..
Paxton’s own baggage, including a House impeachment, hasn’t helped. Leaked audio even caught him telling donors that Trump’s visits were a drag on the ticket.
None of that slowed Trump.
He spent much of a nearly two-hour speech mocking Talarico as “Talafreako,” and warned Texans he would “never forgive” them if the seat flipped.
Protesters interrupted repeatedly, and Trump dismissed them as paid.
The money and the mission
The urgency shows in the spending.
Trump’s super PAC and affiliates have put in at least $25 million, and a PAC tied to Senate GOP leadership about $130 million more. Advisers believe base turnout is their best path, and some Republicans worry the visits motivate Democrats in places like Bexar County, which Kamala Harris carried by nine points.
How the new maps fit in
The rally was also about the House.
In 2025, Texas Republicans redrew the congressional map to turn as many as five Democratic-held seats red, aiming for 30 of 38 districts. The Supreme Court let the lines stand for 2026.
That plan assumed Trump’s 2024 gains with Hispanic voters would last. Now the Texas Tribune reports that falling support among Latino voters has given Democrats a better shot at blunting the gerrymander.
Nowhere is that clearer than San Antonio.
The new 35th District, once a safe Democratic seat, went Trump by 10 points in 2024, yet it is rated only Lean Republican, with Speaker Mike Johnson calling it “the whole enchilada”.
Next door, the 23rd District is vacant, and one poll shows Republican Brandon Herrera ahead by just two points.
What to watch
With Election Day on November 3, the question is whether Trump’s presence energizes the base more than it rallies the opposition. If Talarico’s lead among Hispanic voters holds, the damage may reach beyond the Senate, to the House seats the new map was built to win.
Sources:
- San Antonio Report, “‘Pretend that I’m on the ballot’: Trump rallies in San Antonio to coax Republicans to hold the line.” https://sanantonioreport.org/trump-rally-freeman-coliseum-san-antonio-texas/
- The Hill, “Trump’s onslaught tests Talarico’s momentum in Texas.” https://thehill.com/newsletters/morning-report/6133213-donald-trump-james-talarico-texas-2026-midterms-debates-iran-oct-7/
- Austin American-Statesman, “Can Trump help Paxton win Texas? Poll and leaked audio raise doubts.” https://www.statesman.com/news/columns/article/ken-paxton-trump-texas-senate-poll-22459761.php
- MS NOW, “Why Texas is personal for Trump.” https://www.ms.now/news/trump-texas-rally-senate-paxton-talarico
- Texas Scorecard, “Trump Takes Aim at Talarico During San Antonio Rally.” https://texasscorecard.com/decisiontexas/trump-takes-aim-at-talarico-during-san-antonio-rally/
- TIME, “At San Antonio Rally, Trump Warns He’ll ‘Never Forgive’ Texas if Talarico Wins.” https://time.com/article/2026/10/08/trump-rally-san-antonio-texas-talarico/
- OANN, “Texas: Trump delivers campaign speech in San Antonio.” https://www.oann.com/newsroom/texas-trump-delivers-campaign-speech-in-san-antonio-boosting-local-gop-candidates-and-bolstering-paxtons-push-for-senate/
- CNN, “Trump makes third trip to Texas in less than a month despite Ken Paxton audio leaks.” https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/07/politics/trump-texas-ken-paxton
- Votebeat, “Supreme Court lets Texas keep new congressional map.” https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2025/12/05/texas-redistricting-ruling-supreme-court-map-2026-midterms/
- Texas Tribune, “Texas congressional races 2026: Who is running and what to know.” https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/30/texas-congress-house-elections-2026-midterms/
Austin City Council Agenda: Thursday, October 8, 2026
The Council convenes at 10:00 AM at City Hall. Proclamations start at 9:00 AM, and public comment is available in person or by phone.
Proclamations (9:00 AM)
Cybersecurity Awareness Month, La Santa Barbacha Day, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Code Compliance Month, and Rise and Run ATX: Safety in Numbers Day.
Consent Agenda (Items 1-23)
These can be passed with a single motion unless a member pulls one for discussion.
Minutes and finance (1-4)
- Approve the minutes of the September 10 meeting.
- Appoint nominees to the Rally Austin (Austin Economic Development Corporation) board.
- Add $2M in operational support to the Rally Austin interlocal agreement, for a total not to exceed about $60.4M.
- Adopt the FY 2026-27 Investment Policy.
Contracts (5-15)
- Item 5: Sex crimes response model facilitation for APD (Hanna Senko LLC), up to $576,000.
- Item 6: Rutland/Parkfield roundabout construction (Muniz Concrete), $1.43M (District 4).
- Item 7: Acadis law enforcement training software for APD (Envisage Technologies), up to $1.28M.
- Item 8: Athletic fields maintenance for Parks and Recreation (Texas Multi-Chem), up to $1.625M.
- Item 9: ATX Floods flood-monitoring app (Sanborn Map Company), up to about $1.21M.
- Item 10: Fire cadet hiring services (Morris & McDaniel), up to $1.2M.
- Item 11: Service awards for all City departments (Crown Awards and MTM Recognition), up to $610,000 combined.
- Item 12: Certification management software for Small and Minority Business Resources (B2Gnow), up to $815,000.
- Item 13: Ethics electronic filing system for the City Clerk (RFD & Associates), up to about $1.24M.
- Item 14: Imperva cybersecurity software support (GTS Technology Solutions), up to $2.25M.
- Item 15: VMware licenses and support for all departments (GTS), up to $31.65M. This is the largest contract on the consent list.
Other departments (16-20)
- Item 16: Reappoint Jolsna Thomas to the Civil Service Commission for firefighters, police and EMS.
- Item 17: Set the 2027 Council meeting schedule and the FY 2027-28 budget and tax rate meetings.
- Item 18: Removed.
- Item 19: Interlocal agreement with Travis County on preserving cultural and historical resources (five years).
- Item 20: Agreement with CAPCOG to maintain the 9-1-1 GIS database, which brings in $659,372 in revenue.
Items from Council (21-23)
- Item 21: Board and commission appointments, waivers and bylaw amendments.
- Item 22: Direct the City Manager to propose updated Construction Training Program requirements for projects over $10M. Sponsors are Mayor Watson and Council Members Fuentes, Vela, Velásquez and Qadri.
- Item 23: Initiate rezoning of the MACC Pocket Park (58 and 64 Rainey St.) to allow parks and recreation use. Sponsors are Council Members Qadri, Ellis, Alter, Velásquez and Harper-Madison.
Non-Consent: Eminent Domain
- Items 24 and 25: Authorize eminent domain proceedings for easements along North Lamar Blvd. (District 7) for the Walnut Creek, Eubank Tributary Stream Stabilization Project. The appraisals are $50,548 (Texas State Affordable Housing Corp.) and $27,604 (FC N Lamar Housing, LP).
10:30 AM: Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting
- Item 26: The Council recesses for an AHFC Board meeting, then reconvenes.
Public Hearing
- Item 27: Consider approving the Elm Ridge Apartments (1190 Airport Blvd.) acquisition and rehabilitation, partly financed with private activity bonds issued by AHFC.
12:00 PM: General Public Communication
Ten speakers are listed. Several (Aandahl, Gagon, Gonzalez, Flore, Powers) are speaking on the proposed development and rezoning at 6200 Menchaca Rd. Other topics include the Lake Austin drawdown, closure petitions for Webb and Dobie Middle Schools, and overall city wellbeing. Live music is by Donna.
2:00 PM: Zoning Public Hearings (Items 28-31)
- Item 28: Historic landmark zoning for the James Harvey and Pearl Caldwell House, 400 W. 37th St. (District 9). Staff and commissions recommend approval.
- Item 29: Rezoning 1120-1220 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. for vertical mixed use with a density bonus (District 8). Staff and the Zoning and Platting Commission recommend approval, but a valid petition has been filed in opposition.
- Item 30: Historic landmark zoning for Doris Miller Auditorium, 2300 Rosewood Ave. (District 1). Staff and commissions recommend approval.
- Item 31: Rezoning the 1900 Rosewood Block, with a density bonus 90 (District 1). Staff and the Planning Commission recommend approval.
Second Consent Agenda (Items 32-36)
- Items 32-34: Amend the ordinances for the November 3, 2026 elections (the general obligation bond election, the Council elections for Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9, and the charter amendment election). The amendments update polling places, early voting schedules and election staff lists, and declare an emergency.
- Item 35: Workers’ compensation third-party administration (Tristar), up to $11.08M.
- Item 36: Direct the City Manager to build a six-year bond cycle into bond program development starting in FY 2027-28. Sponsors are Council Members Duchen, Alter and Laine and Mayor Pro Tem Vela.
Executive Session
- Item 37: Closed-door consultation with legal counsel about Levins et al. v. City of Austin, a legal challenge to Dog’s Head Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 21.
Items most likely to draw debate: the opposed rezoning (Item 29), the 6200 Menchaca development (the main topic of public comment), the large VMware contract (Item 15), and the Construction Training Program proposal (Item 22).
Austin police have identified the suspect and victim in a homicide in South Austin Tuesday night that appears to be the result of a rent dispute between roommates. (Austin Police Department)
Taylor’s City Council votes tonight on whether to annex and approve a 664-acre data center and power plant campus, a decision that could set the course for how this fast-growing city northeast of Austin handles the industry.
At stake is a deal with Big Watt Digital and PowerHouse Data Centers for the Taylor Technology Campus. The developers pledge $28.2 million for city, school and nonprofit programs, and the city projects $1.38 billion in gross tax revenue over 20 years with no abatements requested. Under the agreement, the project would have to use closed-loop cooling with reclaimed water and follow rules on noise and setbacks. (KVUE-TV)
Kyle City Council voted 4-3 earlier this week to cover the city’s Flock license plate-reading cameras, with council members sharing concerns over privacy, data collection and the potential impact on public safety.
Reports of ICE activity Wednesday afternoon on FM 969.
It’s been more than two weeks after an ICE agent shot a man in North Austin and Austin police say that federal authorities have not responded to multiple requests for more information in their investigation.
The Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have torn numerous families apart, forcing undocumented parents to be deported while their U.S.-citizen children remain behind. In some cases, both parents are removed, leaving children entirely without primary caregivers. According to the Brookings Institution, more than 35,000 children currently face this situation. (Texas Public Radio)
A reminder from Austin’s school district that there is no school tomorrow, Friday Oct. 9 and Monday, Oct. 12 as they are student holidays.
Austin Parks and Recreation provided more details on how it plans to restore the Great Lawn at Zilker Park after rain and heavy foot traffic at ACL damaged the grass last weekend.
PODCAST
One of the greatest rivalries in college football takes center stage this weekend when the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners play for the 122nd time. Marcus Myers, who was part of Texas’ legendary 2005 championship team, joins City Cast Austin host Miles Bloxson to share predictions for Saturday’s Red River Rivalry game. Plus, will Zilker Park bounce back after ACL Fest? Journalist Natalie Grigson joins us to discuss the latest and who’s paying for repairs. And last, City Cast Austin creative producer Kelsey Bradshaw gives a review of “Brothers”, a new Apple TV show filmed around Austin.
Austin’s public transit system is changing up the rail schedule through the holidays.
A prescribed burn is planned for today on approximately 140 acres of the Water Quality Protection Lands in Hays County.
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Isaias has strengthened into a hurricane and is forecast to track northeastward over the central Gulf. Landfall along the central Gulf Coast is expected Friday night as a strong Category 2 storm.
Communities along the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast are preparing for Hurricane Isaias as officials warn of flooding, damaging winds and disruptions to weekend events.
Democrats are targeting House districts President Trump won comfortably in 2024, while Republicans spend heavily to defend seats that would normally be considered safe.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico are back in federal court challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict their reporters’ access to the White House.
“I wish that you accept my apology, and I wish for your forgiveness. I’m sorry for what happened, I wish you can learn to forgive me one of these days.”
Texas executed Jamaal Howard on Wednesday night for a fatal 2000 robbery, marking the nation’s first execution since a botched lethal injection in Tennessee raised widespread alarm.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Howard was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. following a lethal injection. Before his execution, he offered a final statement apologizing to the victim’s family and expressing gratitude to his own. (Texas Tribune)
The defense team for death row inmate Robert Roberson is renewing their effort to get an evidentiary hearing in his case.
At Houston City Hall on Wednesday, local officials unveiled a $48 million initiative to address homelessness across the region over the next three years. (Houston Public Media)
The Texas Hemp Business Council is preparing to make its case before the Fifteenth Court of Appeals on December 8th seeking to restore a temporary injunction that would keep its legal challenge against state health officials moving forward.
They are suing the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) over new consumable hemp rules adopted on March 31st.
The midterms are just around the corner and we’re watching several competitive races in the Texas House. We’ll have details on some of those races.
A botched execution in Tennessee is having immediate impacts in Texas. A look at why the 2009 Fort Hood shooter will be executed by firing squad.
Meanwhile, there’s a push to spiritualize the military.
(Episode from October 7, 2026)
Dallas health officials announce the first West Nile Virus death this year. The man who died was in his 60s and had preexisting health conditions.
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: High school football matchups scheduled for tonight (Thursday, October 8) in the Austin area include:
Key Matchups
| Matchup | Time | Location / Details |
| Dripping Springs at Austin High | 7:30 PM | House Park (Austin) |
| Westlake at Round Rock Westwood | 7:00 PM | Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex |
| Bowie at Buda Hays | 7:30 PM | Bob Shelton Stadium (Buda) |
| LASA (Liberal Arts & Science Academy) at Navarro | 7:30 PM | House Park / Nelson Field (Austin) |
| Crockett at Bastrop | 7:30 PM | Memorial Stadium (Bastrop) |
| Leander Founders Classical JV at Valor North Austin | 7:00 PM | Valor North Austin |
Note: Double-check with local school district athletics portals (e.g., Austin ISD, RRISD) for last-minute kickoff time or venue adjustments.
NHL: The 1-2 Dallas Stars are in Buffalo tonight.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Red River Rivalry heats up as Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns meet with everything on the line. Can Brent Venables’ defense hold strong against Arch Manning and a Texas offense loaded with stars like Cam Coleman?
NBA: The San Antonio Spurs tip off their 2026 preseason schedule tonight at the Frost Bank Center against the Atlanta Hawks, launching a highly anticipated campaign that expands the franchise’s regional footprint up the I-35 corridor.
While the early tune-up slate gives fans their first look at the team’s overhauled roster, Central Texas hoop fans have additional cause for excitement: as part of the team’s ongoing initiative to engage its growing fanbase, the Spurs will once again take the court in Austin later this season at the Moody Center.
Casey Viera, NBA champion Devin Brown and “Locked On Spurs” daily podcast host Matthew Tynan react to ESPN’s report of Victor Wembanyama no longer wanting to talk to American media and answer questions about the NBA Finals loss to the Knicks.
The trio also talks which player will be facing the most sacrifice and get ready for the preseason opener tonight against Atlanta.
The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets begin their 2026 preseason schedule tomorrow MORNING.
They will tip off the exhibition slate overseas at The Venetian Arena in Macao, China, as part of the NBA China Games 2026.
Do younger generations care about the “old Texas” ways anymore?
Meet Keirstin Pratt, a twenty-something who fell in love with the tiny town of Sanderson and found a way to translate its legacy into modern times. She creates websites, art, and social media pages for Far West Texas desert towns to help their communities and local businesses stay present in today’s digital age.
Keirstin is inspired by the timeless Texan qualities of common sense and leaning on the folks next door.
