Republicans on defense in Texas while Democrats in Michigan can't get on the same page

Texas was not expected to be an epicenter of midterm elections that could reshape the final chapters of Donald Trump's second presidency.

But Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico were making closing arguments Saturday in a tossup U.S. Senate race that has become a key measure of voters' frustration with Trump's leadership and his loyalists in the Republican Party.

Meanwhile in Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed sought to shut down talk of the intraparty conflict with his primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, calling it a distraction from issues that voters care about. The race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers for an open seat is another of this year's most competitive contests, heightening Democratic fears about anything that could hurt the party's chances of keeping Michigan in Democrats' column.

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate. Democrats need to pick up at least four new seats for a majority and would need at least five if they lose Michigan.

The closing sprint comes as early voting nears its conclusion in several states. Early balloting totals were approaching 50 million heading into the weekend. About 112 million voted in total in the 2022 midterm elections.

President Donald Trump took a one-day break from his back-to-back rallies, instead speaking with voters in key states via telephone. On Saturday evening, he attended a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Trump is scheduled to resume rallies on Sunday, with stops in Iowa and Kansas. He told reporters late Saturday that on Monday “we’re doing a lot of different events,” but he didn’t provide details.

Speaking to voters in Houston, Talarico hammered Paxton, the longtime state attorney general who has weathered indictment and impeachment and garnered Trump's endorsement, as an especially corrupt example of a rotten political system.

“This election is about whether you want a senator who puts money in your pocket or who puts money in his own,” Talarico said.

Paxton answered in Fort Worth by painting Talarico, a state lawmaker, seminarian and former teacher, as too liberal for Texas. Each painted the other as a front man for dangerous figures.

“The left in this country keeps getting more and more radical,” Paxton said, arguing Talarico would be a lackey for Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, the New Yorker who would set the chamber's agenda if Democrats win a majority.

For Talarico, the shadow opponent is Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who has spent more than $150 million of his own money to help Paxton keep pace with Talarico's fundraising.

“It’s David vs. Goliath,” said Talarico, invoking the biblical story of the shepherd who slays a giant. “The people of Texas are my slingshot.”

As enthusiastic as Democrats have been about their prospects, they are still having to navigate internal divisions in El-Sayed’s Michigan race. He and Stevens were expected to campaign together on Sunday with Rep. James Clyburn, but that is in doubt.

Stevens has been demanding that El-Sayed condemn an advertisement linking U.S. support for Israel to rising grocery prices and also address concerns about his past rhetoric that has concerned some Jewish voters.

After Stevens renewed her criticism of El-Sayed, his campaign is no longer welcoming her to events, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters.

Antjuan Seawright, a Clyburn adviser, said the congressman was still inviting both to join him for church on Sunday morning. Stevens and her spokesperson did not respond to texts asking whether she was still planning to attend.

Speaking with reporters after a campaign stop in Sterling Heights, Michigan, El-Sayed called talk of his conflict with Stevens a distraction from the issues he wants to focus on: getting money out of politics, passing Medicare for All and putting more money in voters’ pockets.

“I’ve already been clear that that ad was not made by me and I do not agree with the contents of that ad,” El-Sayed said.

Asked whether he wants Stevens to attend church with him and Clyburn on Sunday, El-Sayed responded, “I've been very clear that I would rather not distract from the key issues of this campaign." He added later that “she wants to talk about other things.”

Trump weighed in during the raucous Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago, where the dance floor was bathed in green lights and many attendees wore costumes, including people dressed as cowboys, cats and leopards. Asked about the back-and-forth between El-Sayed and Stevens, Trump said, “They’re really fighting.”

“Stevens is in there fighting,” he said. “You’ve got to give her credit.”

The president was scheduled to call into six tele-rallies after spending the morning and early afternoon at the golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC said that telerallies were lined up for races in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan and two separate calls for Florida. The White House released few details on what to expect, but the president generally participates in such calls — a departure from his rally speeches, which often stretch for 90-plus minutes.

“Answer your phones, and ENJOY!” Trump posted Saturday on his social media site.

Trump has spent the closing weeks of October traveling across the country, including in states he won comfortably in each of his three campaigns.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who would become speaker if Democrats win a House majority, was in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District campaigning with former Rep. Elaine Luria, who is in a rematch with Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans. Luria lost her seat to Kiggans four years ago.

“We’re going to fight hard each and every day for an affordable America,” Jeffries said. He hammered Republicans for filling a “graveyard of broken promises” and repeated his pledge to hold votes on reversing Republicans' healthcare cuts, pass sweeping voting rights laws and limit Trump's military actions on Iran.

“Beginning on day one, we're going to hold the crooks accountable,” he said, previewing aggressive oversight of the Trump administration.

He specifically named Trump's Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, who has rankled Democrats and Republicans with his overhaul of military leadership and dismissals of top generals and other officers, among other actions.

“In the majority, one of the first things we are going to do is run Pete Hegseth out of town,” Jeffries said, drawing perhaps the loudest roar of his 11-minute speech.

The southeast Virginia district is among the most competitive in a House battleground map. Democrats are targeting at least 60 seats. Trump won many of those by double digits in 2024.

House Speaker Mike Johnson answered in a Michigan tossup district with dystopian claims about Democrats.

“It’s a spiritual battle,” the outspoken conservative Christian speaker said, suggesting Republican voters owe it to a higher power to vote.

“These are Marxists, socialists, communists. It’s their ideology,” Johnson said.

Trump has leaned into anti-Muslim rhetoric, focusing in particular on El-Sayed. On Saturday, the president posted on social media an Islamophobic cartoon of a man with a flaming torch knocking on the door of the United States after setting fire to countries in Europe.

Paxton, beset by years of controversy, has followed a similar script of dire warnings and issued them again Saturday.

“I’m not exaggerating when I say, if we lose Texas, we lose America,” Paxton said.

“Pray for our Texas,” he said. “Pray for me.”

President Donald Trump speaks at a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, with his wife Kristy and a gift basket for his opponent, speaks during a campaign event Saturday, Oct. 31, 2016, in Sterling Heights, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed stands for a photo following a campaign rally, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Sterling Heights, Mich. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a campaign event in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Democratic Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, left, and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico stand together during a rally at Bayou Music Center in downtown Houston, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pauses while speaking during a campaign event in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Senate candidate and Texas state Rep. James Talarico speaks during a ''Clear Eyes, Full Hearts'' tour campaign rally at Aggie Park on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

President Donald Trump departs after speaking at a campaign rally at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Cole returned a fumble recovery 66 yards for a touchdown and No. 3 Georgia took advantage of four turnovers by No. 17 Florida to beat the Gators 27-8 on Saturday.

Tramell Jones Jr., Florida's second quarterback, fumbled when sacked by Quintavius Johnson late in the first half. Cole picked up the loose ball and scored on his second long fumble return of the season. Cole also scored on an 85-yard return in Georgia's 41-13 win over Oklahoma on Sept. 26.

Georgia (7-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) enjoyed a strong recovery from its last-second 27-24 loss to Auburn on Oct. 17. Florida (5-3, 3-3) was unable to deliver a second-straight win over a top 10 team following its 27-24 upset of No. 7 Texas.

Georgia outrushed Florida 217-48 for its sixth consecutive win in the rivalry. Coach Kirby Smart said stopping the Gators' run game helped set up the key play by Johnson and Cole when Florida was trying to score.

“I’ll tell you, if you can’t run the ball and they struggled to run it, it makes you one-dimensional,” Smart said. “And then everybody gets to feast and rush the passer. And that was a big play in the game. It was a huge momentum play because it’s really a 14-point swing.”

Added Cole: “We knew this game coming in, both teams are physical, and both teams run the ball. So we knew coming in that we had to be able to stop the run.”

Aaron Philo struggled in his return as Florida's starting quarterback after missing the Texas game with a right shoulder injury. Philo was benched after throwing two interceptions, including one on an underhanded heave when pressured that was picked off by Ellis Robinson IV.

Philo's second interception was high but through the hands of Eric Singleton Jr. and picked off by Demello Jones.

Jones replaced Philo following the second interception.

Jones suffered his own turnover woes. After having his fumble returned for a touchdown with only 29 seconds remaining in the first half, he led a long third-quarter drive end when his pass from the Georgia 3 intended for Singleton was intercepted in the end zone by cornerback Braylon Conley.

“Georgia, I think they’re really good,” said first-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall. "I think they’re well-coached. Got a lot of respect for them. …. They didn’t need our help tonight, but we gave it to them, and they won the game. The Gators didn’t help the Gators enough tonight.”

Bo Walker and Nate Frazier had 1-yard scoring runs as Georgia took a 24-0 halftime lead.

Florida star running back Jadan Baugh, an Atlanta native who began the day leading the SEC with 13 rushing touchdowns, was held to 38 yards on 17 carries.

Georgia committed its first turnover early in the fourth quarter when Talyn Taylor fumbled following a short catch when hit by DJ Coleman. Myles Graham returned the fumble recovery 42 yards. Jones' 23-yard pass to Luke Harpring on a fourth-down play helped set up Jones' 2-yard scoring run to end Georgia's bid for a shutout. Baugh passed to Dallas Wilson for the 2-point conversion.

With the roof closed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the rivalry known as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party became an indoor event.

The usual neutral site setting of Jacksonville, Florida, was not available due to renovations at EverBank Stadium. Next year's game is scheduled for Tampa Bay before the rivalry returns to Jacksonville. There was a 50-50 split of tickets in Atlanta, but Georgia appeared to have a slight advantage in the turnout with scattered red shirts in Florida fans' seating sections.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton didn’t have big passing numbers but he was a factor as a runner and, unlike Florida’s quarterbacks, he avoided mistakes. Stockton completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards. He outrushed Florida in the first half. He ran for 40 yards while Florida was held to 39.

Stockton's ability to avoid turnovers was especially important following his two interceptions and late lost fumble in the loss to Auburn.

Stockton improved to 4-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Yeah, I like that. I like that,” Stockton said. “You, know, it’s good atmosphere. You always like to play in this venue.”

Florida: The turnovers and five penalties for 60 yards in the first half were far too many mistakes for the Gators to overcome when Baugh and the running game was ineffective. The loss leaves Florida in danger of falling out of the Top 25. The Gators were without wide receiver Vernell Brown III for the fourth consecutive game with a sprained right knee.

Georgia: Smart set an aggressive tone on the Bulldogs' opening drive by keeping the offense on the field on a fourth-and-1 play from the Georgia 34. Frazier gained 3 yards but the drive ended with a missed 43-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring. Running back Chauncy Bowens (foot) and wide receiver Thomas Blackshear (collarbone) did not play.

Florida plays host to Oklahoma on Saturday.

Georgia will face another Top 25 opponent when it visits No. 12 Mississippi, which beat Auburn 45-15, on Saturday.

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here

Florida quarterback Aaron Philo (12) throws an interception while Georgia linebacker Raylen Wilson (5) chases during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Georgia linebacker Chris Cole (9) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)