Paxton headlines GOP rally in McAllen as candidates stress border security and social issues
McALLEN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton headlined a Republican "Rally in the Valley" on July 14 at University Draft House Townlake in McAllen, joining a slate of GOP congressional hopefuls who framed the fall election as a referendum on border security, law enforcement and social policy.
Speakers at the event urged supporters to mobilize for November, describing the choice as between "law and order" and what they characterized as chaos, and between secure borders and more permissive immigration policies. The program included Republican candidates Eric Flores, a contender in Texas' 34th Congressional District, and Tano Tijerina, running in the 28th Congressional District, along with National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez.
- Ken Paxton — headliner, emphasized his record on litigation and settlements related to social policy and border enforcement.
- Eric Flores — tied his own law enforcement and Department of Justice experience to Paxton’s legal fights, including criticism of federal immigration policies.
- Tano Tijerina — participant in the McAllen event; local Republican organizing was highlighted as important for the November race.
- Paul Perez — spoke as a law enforcement representative and pressed border security themes.
Speakers repeatedly urged attendees to become active in campaigns by contacting friends and family, knocking on doors and encouraging turnout, calling the November election "the most important" for the country.
Event rhetoric linked national and state legal fights to local politics. Flores praised Paxton’s record, saying the attorney general had opposed what he described as an "open border policy," defended children in litigation, and secured a major settlement tied to de-transition care. Flores also noted his own service in Operation Guardian and as an assistant U.S. attorney, saying he worked on legal efforts challenging federal policies.
Speakers criticized current Democratic representation in South Texas and urged voters to replace incumbents, arguing local constituents "deserve better." The messaging centered on conservative positions on family, faith and law enforcement and aimed to energize the Republican base in Hidalgo County, a region that has been competitive in recent statewide and federal contests.
Local stakes and wider implications
For McAllen and Hidalgo County, the rally underscores how national and state-level issues — border security, immigration policy and social policy litigation — are being folded into congressional campaigns. Both the 28th and 34th districts include parts of South Texas where federal immigration enforcement, cross-border trade and health-care access are daily concerns for voters.
| Candidate | District | Role at Rally |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Paxton | Statewide (Attorney General) | Headliner |
| Eric Flores | 34th District | Speaker — emphasized legal and border posture |
| Tano Tijerina | 28th District | Speaker — local candidate outreach |
| Paul Perez | N/A (Border Patrol Council) | Speaker — law enforcement perspective |
Organizers sought to convert the rally into grassroots action: volunteers were asked to make calls, canvass and turn out voters. For Republicans, energizing the conservative base in the Rio Grande Valley could affect closely watched House races and influence the state’s political balance. For Democrats, the event signals intensified Republican focus on the Valley ahead of the general election.
The rally reflects how litigation and enforcement efforts at the state level are being used as campaign themes in South Texas, where border and social issues remain pivotal to voter alignment and turnout heading into November.
