Story perspectives

Paxton Campaign Removes Black Influencer From San Antonio Rally

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 11:22 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Thelma Louise Removed

Black conservative influencer Thelma Louise was escorted out of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign event in San Antonio.
She drove two hours from her home to attend the rally.
The campaign manager ordered her removal from the event.
Commenters online suggested her Black skin contributed to the exclusion, noting she was the only Black woman present.
Louise speculated she was mistaken for a paid supporter of Senate opponent James Talarico.

Summary

Trump rallies Paxton

University of Houston poll shows James Talarico leading Ken Paxton 48% to 46% in the Senate race.
GOP donors have poured extraordinary sums into Paxton’s campaign as the race tightens.
U.S. President Donald Trump visited Texas to rally support for Paxton’s Senate bid.
A San Antonio event promoted early voting for Paxton’s campaign.
Paxton’s campaign has not commented on Louise’s removal from the rally.

History

Historical Context

In August 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, imposing Section 5 preclearance on jurisdictions like Texas. Federal oversight helped register roughly 250,000 Black voters that year and later boosted Black registration in Texas precincts by about 30 percent between 1966 and 1970. The legacy appears today as Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton’s rally expelled Black influencer Thelma Louise, reviving concerns over voter-suppression tactics.

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Thelma Louise Removed

Black conservative influencer Thelma Louise was escorted out of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign event in San Antonio.
She drove two hours from her home to attend the rally.
The campaign manager ordered her removal from the event.
Commenters online suggested her Black skin contributed to the exclusion, noting she was the only Black woman present.
Louise speculated she was mistaken for a paid supporter of Senate opponent James Talarico.

1 / 3