James Talarico leads Ken Paxton in Texas Senate race polls

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico is gaining momentum in the Texas Senate race, according to recent polling. A survey by Texas Public Opinion Research shows Talarico leading Republican opponent Ken Paxton by five percentage points, with 49% of likely voters supporting the Democrat compared to 44% for the Attorney General. This follows similar trends in polls from Marist, Siena, and YouGov.

During the Texas Tribune Festival, Talarico addressed immigration and challenged Paxton to a debate moderated by Fox News’ Bret Baier. Talarico emphasized the need to reach across political lines, including Republicans and independents, to win the election.

Paxton faces challenges within his own party, as prominent Republicans like Senator John Cornyn and former President George W. Bush have not campaigned for him. Additionally, Talarico’s campaign has highlighted controversial 2022 remarks made by Paxton regarding the Uvalde school shooting, which the campaign characterized as part of a broader critique of the Republican candidate.