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 was taking a one-day break from his back-to-back rallies, instead opting to speak with voters in key states via telephone on Saturday. He's scheduled to resume rallies on Sunday, with stops in Iowa and Kansas.

Talarico and Paxton trade jabs from afar in Texas

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.”

Democrats face fresh turmoil in Michigan

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 talking to voters via phone

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.

In Virginia, Jeffries previews Democratic control

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.

Republicans lean into extreme labeling of the left

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.”

___ Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press reporters Joey Cappelletti and Will Weissert contributed from Washington.

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