Trump’s Texas two-step

President Donald Trump is traveling to Texas for the second time in a week, a sign that the midterm contest has put typically Republican ground in play. Gov. Greg Abbott will not join the rally, citing a scheduling conflict. Abbott, who took each of the last three governor races by double digits, faces a tougher re-election fight than Republicans expected. Democrats are being urged to back nominee Gina Hinojosa, who trails badly in money. Latino leaders met with the Democratic Governors Association, and a letter asked for a $3 million investment before early voting starts in under two weeks. The association has committed $1 million, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is sending $1 million after an earlier $200,000, according to NBC News.

Elsewhere, Republicans are also keeping some distance from the president. Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers released an ad calling for an end to the tariff war, and gubernatorial candidate John James split with Trump on tariffs and the Iran war.

Three years after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an election in three weeks that has become a referendum on the war.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →