A new AARP poll is shedding new light on how competitive the Texas governor race is with less than two months left till Election Day.
The AARP Texas survey finds that voters 50 and older are making the governor's race tight, with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at 49% and Gina Hinojosa at 46%, the poll released on Thursday, Sept. 10. Among voters 50 and older, voting preferences differ from the statewide results, underscoring the importance of older voters in both contests.
The poll also found that affordability is the top issue for Texas voters, with rising prices and the cost of everyday necessities ranking highest among concerns. Among voters aged 50 and older, Social Security, Medicare, health care costs, and policies that help older adults remain
independent at home are also major priorities.
Groceries, health care, and gasoline are the leading affordability concerns for many Texans.
AARP commissioned the bipartisan polling firms Fabrizio Ward, a Republican research firm, and Impact Research, a Democratic research firm, to conduct the survey of likely Texas voters.
The survey included 895 likely voters statewide and was conducted Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, 2026. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish using a random sample drawn from the Texas voter file. The results were weighted to reflect the Texas electorate based on factors including voter turnout, demographics, geography, education and past election results.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: AARP poll shows tight Texas governor's race before Election Day
