Vance makes fiery closing pitch for Paxton: ‘Texas is not surrendering a damn thing’

WEATHERFORD, Texas — Vice President delivered a fiery closing pitch for Republican Senate candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday, telling supporters the Lone Star State would not surrender “a damn thing” on Election Day.

“I need you to send a message on November the 3rd that America belongs to those who love it, not those who hate,” Vance exclaimed to a large crowd of supporters in North Texas.

“I need you to tell James Talarico that this weird obsession with trans kids is not good for the state of Texas, and I need you to send the message to every far-left activist, to everybody who expects Texas to surrender, that in five days Texas is not surrendering a damn thing,” he continued of the Democratic state lawmaker challenging Paxton for the Senate seat.

The vice president received a warm welcome from hundreds of supporters at a construction facility roughly 30 miles west of Fort Worth, with supporters changing “JD” as he took to the stage. There was a sizable overflow crowd of supporters watching on a jumbotron outside of the main event space.

Vance took a number of jabs at Talarico on cultural issues, including masculinity and trans athletes in women’s sports.

The vice president also sought to attack Talarico over gas prices, an area where Republicans have struggled with their messaging amid the U.S. war in Iran, which has driven up energy costs.

“It takes a certain kind of audacity for Democrats like James Talarico to say that Texas energy jobs are immoral, which is what he has said, and then to run talking about the price of gas,” Vance said.

“Right here in Texas, we can make more of our own energy, drill more of our own energy,” he added.

Vance also announced that the Department of Agriculture is opening a new beef processing facility in Texas, crediting Paxton and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

“Because thanks to Ken’s advocacy and thanks, importantly, to Brooke Rollins’s hustle, the Department of Agriculture is devoting millions to the opening of a new beef processing facility right here in Texas,” he told supporters.

The vice president previously campaigned in Tyler, Texas, earlier this month. Vance and President Trump have made a number of trips to the state to boost Paxton, who has trailed Talarico in several recent polls.

A CNN poll released on Thursday showed Paxton trailing Talarico 49 percent to 43 percent among registered Texas voters.