Democrat James Talarico continues leading in polls for the U.S. Senate race in Texas.
A new poll from Texas A&M's Bush School and ReconMR shows Talarico leading Paxton 47% to 43%, an improvement for Talarico after a June poll found the two candidates tied at 46%. The poll was conducted between July 27 and July 30 among 619 likely Texas voters.
“In one of the most watched U.S. Senate races in the nation, Talarico has opened a small four-point lead over Paxton, after the two were tied in June,” ReconMR Senior Research Analyst Lindsey Hendren said in a news release. “The movement over the last two months is largely seen by looking at independent voters who now favor Talarico by 23 points, 53-30%, up from 14 points, 50-36%, in June.”
Talarico and Paxton
are set to face off in the Nov. 3 General Election.
The boost for Talarico mirrors what has been showing up in multiple U.S. Senate polls — the Texas legislator is not only polling better among independent voters, he also fares better among women, increasing his nine-point lead in June to 13 points in the latest poll. He has also cut Paxton's lead among men from 10 points in June to only six points in the Texas A&M poll.
When it comes to favorability, Paxton has a negative 40% to 52% rating, a slight improvement over June's 34% to 52%, while Talarico remains in the positive with a 46% to 39% favorability rating.
On the issues, respondents seem firmly planted in Talarico's corner — 51% said he would do a better job than Paxton on lowering prices, 50% said he would do a better job addressing the war with Iran and keeping Texans safe, and 49% said he would do a better job managing the water supply in Texas. However, 48% said Paxton would do a better job securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
“When it comes to issues, voters say Talarico would do a better job than Paxton on making prices more affordable, dealing with the war in Iran, keeping Texans safe, and managing the water supply," veteran pollster and Texas A&M Visiting Professor Clifford Young said in the news release. "The only issue voters think Paxton will do better at — and only barely — is securing the border with Mexico."
“The good news for Talarico is that voters think he is honest, authentic, in touch with Texas values, and that he’s not corrupt," Young continued. "The bad news for him is that voters by a narrow margin don’t think he’s tough. For Paxton, the good news is voters think he’s tough. But the bad news is that a majority or plurality of voters say that Paxton is not honest, authentic, or in touch with Texas values. And even worse, by a 55-35% margin, voters say Paxton is corrupt.”
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: New Texas A&M poll shows movement in tight Texas US Senate contest
