Live updates: Watch coverage of Donald Trump rally in South Texas city of Robstown

ROBSTOWN, Texas — Former President Donald Trump is in Robstown on Saturday for a rally at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds.

An advisory from Trump’s Save America PAC for the event said Trump would speak “in support of his unprecedented effort to advance the MAGA agenda by energizing voters” and highlight his 33-0 endorsement record in the state’s primaries and runoffs earlier this year.

Five high-profile guest speakers are set to join Trump during the rally, including Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep Michael Cloud, R-Victoria.

Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a third term in the November election, said in a statement that he will not be in attendance because he'll be at a campaign event in Florida.

Robstown was likely chosen as a destination because at least two South Texas congressional districts that have been Democratic strongholds for generations are considered to be in play.

Though Robstown is not in either of those districts, the event is close enough to potentially affect those races, said Laine Shay, an associate professor of politics at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

This is a developing story. Check back to Caller.com for updates.

Former president teases future run for White House

8:32 p.m.- On a possible 2024 run for the White House: Former President Donald Trump said he "will probably have to do it again." But first, voters must deliver wins to Republicans in the midterms, he said.

-Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Trump shouts out Republican congressional nominees

8:30 p.m.- Trump gave shoutouts to three Republican congressional nominees in South Texas: Monica De La Cruz, Cassy Garcia and Mayra Flores.

He said their candidacy shows that a new generation of Latinos is entering the Republican party.

-Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Last time Trump visited after Hurricane Harvey

8:23 p.m.- The last time former President Donald J. Trump visited the Coastal Bend was five years ago after Hurricane Harvey hit the area.

The grim news of Hurricane Harvey’s disastrous tour of Texas brought Trump to Corpus Christi, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. But as he was leaving, the visit had more of the look of a rally with hundreds of supporters lining the road roaring approval as he emerged from the Annaville Volunteer Fire Department, where he was briefed on local recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Category 4 storm.

Trump generally praised the work of emergency responders, but added a caveat: There won’t be “congratulations” exchanged until the crisis has concluded.

He told the outdoor audience — who were waving U.S. and Texas flags while shouting “USA,” “Texas Trump” and “lock her up” — they would see him soon and pulled out a Texas flag.

“I will tell you this is historic. This is epic, what happened,” Trump said. “But you know what? It happened in Texas, and Texas can handle anything.”

-John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Trump calls Jan. 6 committee "crooked people"

8:08 p.m.- Trump talked about the subpoena issued by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol on Friday.

"They sent me a subpoena the other day," he said. "These crooked people. These crooked people."

-John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Trump arrives at Robstown rally

7:27 p.m.- Former president Donald Trump takes the stage. Trump called Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke a "fake" and gave shout outs to Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

"The Texas way of life is under seige," Trump said.

-John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Trump scheduled to speak at rally

7:05 p.m. - Police cars began to arrive at the Richard M. Borchard Fairgrounds in Robstown. The former president is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m..

Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow, prepared for interviews at the rally.

-John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rally comes two days before early voting starts

6:10 p.m.- Trump’s Robstown visit comes two days before early voting in Texas begins on Monday. The venue, coupled with the event’s proximity to the start of early voting, was likely a strategic decision by Trump, said Laine Shay, a Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi associate professor of politics, in an interview with the Caller-Times this week.

“It is probably smart politics,” Shay said. “(South Texas’) politics is changing from a solid blue region to a more purple one, and, particularly this area, there'd be a lot of supporters who could come to his event and rally.”

Linked here is a guide by the Caller-Times for what’s on the ballot, early voting locations, Election Day voting locations and other information for voters in Nueces, San Patricio, Aransas and Kleberg counties.

-Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Nueces County Democratic Party protest near rally

5:10 p.m.- Nueces County Democratic Party Chair Rene Saenz said he and a group of about 30 indiviudals were heading to protest at the corner of Texas Yes Boulevard and US-77 Frontage Road in Robstown to "express our support for democracy."

-John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

U.S. Representative Michael Cloud praises Gov. Greg Abbott

4:52 p.m.- U.S Rep Michael Cloud, R-Victoria, whose district includes Corpus Christi praised Gov. Abbott for bussing migrants to sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago. They received “a few buses” and now act like the “world is ending,” he said.

-Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Republican incumbent for Texas's 37th Congressional District appears in video message

4:30 p.m. - Mayra Flores, a Republican incumbent for TX37 running for reelection, appeared in a short brief video message. In June, she won a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, who resigned before his term ended to join a lobbying firm.

Monica De La Cruz, who is running as a Republican for Texas's 15th congressional district against Democrat Michelle Vallejo, also appeared in a short video message.

-Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Texas Senate District 27 candidate takes the stage

4:06 p.m. - Texas Senate District 27 candidate Adam Hinojosa, a Corpus Christi businessman, was the first to take the stage. Hinojosa faces Democratic nominee Morgan LaMantia, a McAllen lawyer who was endorsed by retiring district 27 senator Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville.

-Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Gov. Greg Abbott not attending rally

3:37 p.m. - Gov. Greg Abbott, whom Trump endorsed in the March primary, will not attend the Robstown event due to a out-of-state fundraising trip. The incumbent Republican governor, who is running for reelection against Democrat Beto O'Rourke, was in Corpus Christi on Thursday for an immigration-focused campaign event with a bipartisan group of county sheriffs.

Caller-Times reporter John C. Moritz covered the event.

Abbott is scheduled for an Oct. 27  rally at Brewster Street Icehouse in Corpus Christi.

Nueces County judge candidate Connie Scott will lead a prayer at the rally

3 p.m. — Connie Scott, a former Texas state representative who is running for Nueces County judge, is expected to lead a prayer before the slate of special speakers take the stage this evening. Scott, a Republican, is running to oust Democratic incumbent Barbara Canales, who is vying for a second term. Here is a primer for that race.

— Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Gates open for Trump rally

2:05 p.m. — Gates officially opened for Trump's rally at the Richard Mr. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds.

— John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Trump went on a local radio station on Thursday

1:05 p.m. — Trump on Thursday called in to a Corpus Christi conservative radio show, 1440 KEYS, and lodged criticism of President Joe Biden during a 15-minute segment. The former president discussed immigration, the economy, gas prices and Republican candidates in the U.S. and promoted his social media platform Truth Social. He also reiterated his false claims that he won the 2020 election.

During the call, Trump praised Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo, who was in the studio for her weekly appearance on the show, and invited her to the Robstown event. She told the Caller-Times on Friday that she would not be attending due to a prior engagement.

— Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Nueces County Democratic Party plans counter protest

12:34 p.m. - Nueces County Dem. Party Chair Rene Saenz said a counter protest will gather at a place yet to be determined on the fairgrounds. Their presence is key, he said, to get “both sides of the story out.” Saenz said Trump’s visit has convinced him the former president will run in 2024.

— Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Road closures, traffic delays near Robstown

11:45 a.m. — Access to several off- and on-ramps around U.S. Highway 77 and Texas Highway 44 were closed Saturday morning. Nueces County Precinct 5 Constable Oscar Mendoza warned drivers of evening traffic delays along Highway 44. Those traveling to Corpus Christi should take Interstate Highway 37.

How did Trump do in Texas, Nueces County last time?

11:24 a.m. — Trump is broadly popular in Texas. He comfortably won the state with a 9-point lead in 2016 and carried the state again in 2020 — though with a smaller margin of about ​​5.8 percentage points.

The races were closer in Nueces County. Trump beat Hilary Clinton by about 1.5 percentage points in 2016, making Nueces the southernmost county he carried in Texas. In 2020, he beat Joe Biden by a wider margin of 2.9 percentage points.

— Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

National Border Patrol Council president to speak about Texas' southern border

11:18 a.m. — National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd, one of the special guests speaking later during the event, said he will be talking about encounters at Texas' southern border compared to encounters under the Trump administration.

— Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

How many people are attending?

10:04 a.m. — Event organizers for the Trump team would not comment on crowd size, but the fairgrounds' 35,000-square-foot central pavilion arena can seat up to 1,900 in the bleachers and up to 1,000 floor seats.

Why is Trump coming?

9: 40 a.m. — The Caller-Times spoke to two political experts about the rationale for the Robstown venue. They said the event is likely meant to energize Republicans in South Texas and shore up support for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, two of Trump's closest allies that are in fairly competitive races.

"If you're former President Trump, you can't afford to lose those races because Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick had been two of your staunchest allies," said Andrew Smith, a political lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in an interview this week. "Trump wants to make sure that his allies have his support and that Republicans in the Valley know they need to get out and go vote to make sure that Democrats don't pull off upsets in key statewide races."

— Chase Rogers, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Here's the schedule for Trump's Robstown rally

7 a.m. — The parking lot and registration for the event will open at the fairgrounds at 8 a.m. CDT.

Doors will open at 2 p.m., and guest speakers will begin delivering remarks at 4 p.m. Trump is scheduled to begin delivering remarks at 7 p.m.

— Staff reports

More:What we know about the Trump rally in Robstown: Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton among guest speakers

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Live: Follow Donald Trump rally coverage in Robstown, Texas