Two Senate races in states that Donald Trump won multiple times are playing out with the same dynamics for the same reasons.
In Michigan, Republicans are trying to make the election all about Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. In Texas, Republicans want the election to be about Democratic candidate James Talarico.
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The two Democrats differ in important ways. El-Sayed is more progressive. Talarico is more moderate.
In both states, deep red Texas and Michigan, Donald Trump’s economy has pummeled voters and opened the door wide for Democrats to hold the seat in Michigan and break a decades-long statewide drought in Texas.
Trump has so far stayed out of Michigan, but the president has been to Texas multiple times and also sent his vice president to the state.
JD Vance returned to Texas on Tuesday, and with about three weeks until Election Day, showed how low the administration is willing to go.
Donald Trump created the GOP headache in Texas by primarying incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn, and replacing him with his corruption mini-me, state attorney general Ken Paxton.
Since Paxton is about as popular as eating lead paint, Trump and Vance are trying to save the day and keep Democrats from flipping a Senate seat.