Democratic challenger James Talarico leads Texas Senate race over GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton in new poll

A recent Texas Public Opinion Research poll shows Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico ahead of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate seat, with 47% to Paxton's 43%. The poll also indicates Talarico holds a 27‑point advantage among Latino voters, a key demographic in the state. A notable share of voters who previously supported Republican Sen. John Cornyn in his runoff now favor Talarico, driven largely by concerns over Paxton’s history of personal scandals, including a criminal indictment and allegations of corruption. The results suggest the GOP may need to invest heavily to overcome the lead, potentially diverting resources from other battleground races.