The latest Texas U.S. Senate race poll shows Democrat candidate James Talarico maintaining his lead over Republican candidate Ken Paxton with just over two months to go before the general election.
The poll from Texas Public Opinion Research (TPOR) released Thursday, Aug. 27, shows Talarico leading Paxton by six points, 48% to 42%, building on a series of polls that have shown the Democrat in the lead. The poll surveyed 1,000 likely Texas voters between Aug. 21 and Aug. 24.
Talarico currently holds a double-digit lead over Paxton, 51% to 30%, among independent voters, who have become a key voting bloc in the Democrat's U.S. Senate campaign. Paxton continues to lead among white voters and those 55 and over, while Talarico leads with Black voters, Latino
voters, younger voters, college-educated voters and women.
Even worse for Paxton, 50% of likely voters disapprove of how he is performing at his job as attorney general, with 40% voicing approval for his job and 10% undecided.
Talarico's net favorability rating is at +12, 47% favorable versus 35% unfavorable, while Paxton is sitting at -15, 36% favorable versus 51% unfavorable, the lowest favorability among all the candidates respondents were questioned about.
Where key issues are concerned, 50% of respondents said affordability and the cost of living are the biggest issues heading into the Nov. 3 general election. Healthcare costs and access were second at 23%, and economic growth and job creation were third at 19%.
Talarico would do a better job tackling the cost-of-living crisis, 48% of respondents said. He would do a better job addressing AI and data center issues, 43% of respondents said.
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: Talarico gaining ground in Texas US Senate race, new poll shows
