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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Talarico leads both Cornyn, Paxton in new poll of Texas' U.S. Senate race

The poll put Paxton five points behind Talarico as Paxton and Cornyn compete in the Republican Senate runoff.

Talarico leads both Cornyn, Paxton in new poll of Texas' U.S. Senate race
Image · San Antonio Current

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Outlet credibilitySan Antonio Current71/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 7, 2026

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Cites Texas Tribune

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Texas Tribune79/100 HIGH

65 stories · 79–80 · updated Oct 9, 2026

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San Antonio Currentcites Texas Tribune
Apr 28, 2026
tl;dr

A new poll puts James Talarico ahead of John Cornyn and Ken Paxton in hypothetical Texas Senate matchups, but both leads are within the survey’s margin of error. Cornyn and Paxton are still competing in a Republican runoff to face Talarico.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Ken Paxton R · TX
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Paxton in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Paxton’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate and potential opponent of Talarico in the general election

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican senator and potential opponent of Talarico in the general election

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate leading in the poll’s hypothetical matchups

Talarico's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President, mentioned as context for Democrats’ hopes in Texas

Chip Roy
R · TX-21

U.S. representative in the Republican attorney general primary runoff

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Senator cited as the Republican opponent in the 2018 race against Beto O’Rourke

Beto O'Rourke
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former Democratic Texas Senate candidate cited as historical election context

ALSO MENTIONED  Gina Hinojosa, Democratic nominee for governor; Greg Abbott, Republican governor and subject of a separate gubernatorial poll matchup; Joe Jaworski, Former Galveston mayor in the Democratic attorney general primary runoff; Mayes Middleton, Republican state senator in the attorney general primary runoff; Nathan Johnson, Democratic state senator in the attorney general primary runoff

Part of a bigger story

8 OUTLETS
Poll Shows Talarico Leading Cornyn and Paxton in Texas Senate Matchups

A Texas poll found James Talarico ahead of Ken Paxton and John Cornyn in hypothetical U.S. Senate matchups. Left-leaning outlets stress that the leads are within the margin of error and note the Republican runoff. Center outlets report the leads, often with margin-of-error or runoff context. Right-leaning outlets question the poll’s reliability, citing the polling director’s Democratic ties.

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