President rallies for GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton while Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged amid rising inflation concerns.
President Donald Trump returned to Texas this week for his third visit in a month, delivering campaign stops aimed at securing a Republican hold on the state’s U.S. Senate seat. Speaking in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, Trump urged voters to support Republican Ken Paxton over Democrat James Talarico in one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 midterms.
Trump highlighted a newly arrived tanker carrying one million barrels of Venezuelan oil, which he said would be refined in Texas. He framed the shipment as a win for American energy and a direct result of his administration’s deal with Venezuela following the removal of former leader Nicolás Maduro.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at its meeting later today. Inflation has ticked higher in recent months, partly due to energy price spikes linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, but most economists anticipate the central bank will hold steady rather than raise rates again before the November 3 elections.
Consumer confidence also showed improvement, rising to 91.7 in October according to the Conference Board, up from 84 the previous month. Markets remained relatively calm as investors awaited the Fed’s decision.
With less than a week until Election Day, Trump has intensified his personal involvement in key races, telling supporters the midterms will serve as a referendum on his agenda.
