Oliver Seizes on GOP Rally Struggles Ahead of Midterms

John Oliver used his weekly program on November 1 to argue that Republicans were facing trouble before the November 3 midterm elections. He focused on low attendance at events for Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton and on candidates’ relationship with President Donald Trump.

At one Paxton rally, a supporter asked people in the thin crowd to stay, saying they had work the next morning and worrying that the media would portray the turnout as evidence that voters disliked Paxton. Oliver mocked the appeal, arguing that enthusiastic supporters would be less likely to leave early.

Paxton, Texas’ 63-year-old attorney general, is running against 37-year-old Democrat James Talarico. A November 1 YouGov poll put Talarico ahead 51% to 47%; the betting site Polymarket gave him a 75% chance of winning. Texas has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate for close to four decades. Paxton has Trump’s endorsement, while Talarico’s events have drawn lines outside venues.

Oliver also pointed to Trump’s rally rhetoric and the way some Republican candidates have avoided tying themselves to him. At a Trump-led pledge, the president linked voting Republican with loyalty to him and warned that people who did not vote would go to hell. Asked whether a vote for him would support Trump’s agenda, Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers said he was having trouble with his earpiece. Oliver ridiculed the response.

He called the Republican midterm approach “truly ugly” and “plain weird,” referencing criticism of Talarico and Ohio governor hopeful Amy Acton. He urged viewers to send the administration a message in the election.

GOP Rally Woes Put Trump’s Midterm Message on the Spot

John Oliver’s November 1 show spotlighted what he framed as a Republican campaign struggling to connect with voters. Sparse crowds at Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton’s events and GOP candidates’ evasions about Donald Trump offered, in Oliver’s telling, signs of a party in trouble before the November 3 midterms.

At one Paxton rally, a supporter pleaded with attendees not to leave, explaining that people had jobs the next morning and worrying that low turnout would be used to suggest voters disliked Paxton. Oliver ridiculed the appeal as evidence of weak enthusiasm. Paxton, a 63-year-old Republican and Texas attorney general, is endorsed by Trump.

A November 1 YouGov poll showed Democrat James Talarico leading Paxton 51% to 47%, while Polymarket gave Talarico a 75% chance of victory. Texas has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in nearly 40 years, but Talarico’s events have drawn lines outside venues. Oliver also called the Republican midterm strategy “truly ugly” and “plain weird,” pointing to attacks on Talarico and Ohio candidate Amy Acton.

Trump has urged voters to treat a Republican vote as support for him, but more than 99% of GOP ad spending was going to ads that did not mention him, as cited on the show. When asked whether a vote for Michigan Republican Mike Rogers backed Trump’s agenda, Rogers said he was having trouble with his earpiece. Oliver mocked the dodge and urged voters to use the election to send the administration a message.

Oliver Turns GOP Campaign Challenges Into a Midterm Attack

John Oliver used his November 1 show to make Republican campaign difficulties a centerpiece of his midterm commentary, focusing on an under-attended Ken Paxton rally and candidates’ answers about Donald Trump. He urged voters to use the November 3 election to send a message to the administration.

A supporter at a Paxton event asked the sparse crowd to remain, noting that attendees had work in the morning and expressing concern that the turnout would be portrayed as a sign that people disliked Paxton. Oliver mocked the plea. Paxton, Texas’ Republican attorney general, is running for Senate and has Trump’s endorsement.

The race is close in a November 1 YouGov poll, which put Democrat James Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 47%. Polymarket gave Talarico a 75% chance of winning. Texas has not elected a Democratic senator in nearly 40 years, while Talarico has drawn lines at his events. Oliver also cited criticism of Talarico and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton as examples of what he called a “truly ugly” and “plain weird” Republican approach.

Oliver’s broader attack contrasted Trump’s demand for loyalty with Republican candidates’ apparent caution about associating themselves with him. Trump told a rally crowd that failing to vote could mean going to hell, while Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers sidestepped a question about whether electing him would support Trump’s agenda, saying his earpiece was giving him trouble. Oliver ridiculed Rogers’ response.