Talarico vs. Paxton Texas Senate race tightens as new poll drops
Paxton trails Talarico in the new poll, though the gap narrows when undecided voters are asked which candidate they lean toward.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, where this article appeared. The other scores rate the article itself.
The page identifies the story as originally appearing on USA TODAY, so the reporting is attributed to an established national outlet rather than presented as Yahoo original reporting. Yahoo’s publisher rating is 70, and no page-specific evidence warrants a major departure from that rating.
- Source type — National-news reporting originally published by USA TODAY and republished by Yahoo.
- Track record — Yahoo’s site rating is 70 based on 27 stories; no contrary evidence is visible here.
- Transparency — The article identifies the original outlet and gives poll sample sizes and margins of error, but the author is not shown in the supplied metadata.
The article gives poll results, field dates, sample sizes, and margins of error, and places the new results alongside several other September polls. It provides little information about the polling methodology or the pollster beyond its name, and includes no campaign responses.
HOW WE SCORE ↗For a poll update, the article presents comparable figures for both candidates and includes multiple polls. It does not provide campaign responses or much context on the pollster’s methods.
- Source diversity — Lists results from several polling organizations in addition to the new poll.
- Counterarguments presented — Includes polling figures for both candidates, but no candidate or campaign perspectives.
- Omitted context — Provides sample sizes and margins of error but little information about methodology or the pollster.
The story reports polling figures in neutral terms and does not show a discernible political preference in its framing or word choice.
- Language tone — Uses straightforward, non-evaluative descriptions of poll results.
- Framing — Focuses on the candidates’ polling standings and the effect of undecided voters leaning toward a candidate.
- Source selection — Presents results from a range of named polls without overtly favoring either candidate.
Cites USA Today
This article cites USA Today as its original publisher. ChamberLight has not verified that it is a republication, so the scores are Yahoo News's own.
13 stories · 79–84 · updated Oct 5, 2026
This is USA Today's own score. The Source Check scores are for Yahoo News and this article.
A new poll shows James Talarico narrowly leading Ken Paxton in the Texas U.S. Senate race. When undecided voters were asked which way they leaned, the gap narrowed, with both candidates’ leads within the poll’s margin of error.
A BIG DATA POLL conducted September 24–26 found Talarico ahead of Paxton among registered voters, 43.6% to 39.3%, and among likely voters, 44.6% to 41.6%. After undecided voters were asked which candidate they leaned toward, Talarico’s leads narrowed to 46.4% to 43.8% among registered voters and 46.8% to 44.9% among likely voters. The poll surveyed 793 registered voters and 698 likely voters; the margin of error for both groups was four percentage points.
The article also lists September polls from several other pollsters, which generally showed Talarico ahead of Paxton. Those results ranged from a one-point Talarico lead to a five-point lead.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo 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.
People in this story
SWIPE →Democratic candidate in the Texas U.S. Senate race
Talarico's version of this story ↗Part of a bigger story
10 OUTLETSPolls reported by center and right outlets put James Talarico ahead of Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, though reported gaps vary and some are within the margin of error. Left-leaning outlets focus on Paxton deleting a campaign post after misstating a Texas city, presenting it as a campaign mistake. Center outlets mostly track poll results and their close margins, voter expectations, or changing race ratings, with one article focusing on Paxton's use of Alyssa Edwards in campaign messaging. Right-leaning outlets report Talarico's lead while adding criticism of his religious views or highlighting potential political vulnerabilities.
- ARTICLES
- 14
- OUTLETS
- 10
- AVG CRED
- 66
- Abilene Reporter-News · Talarico vs. Paxton Texas Senate race tightens as new poll drops
- We Got This Covered · Talarico's lead on Paxton is growing as midterm approaches, and it's up to 5 points, according to latest Texas Senate race poll
- Washington Examiner · Talarico holds 5-point lead over Paxton in Texas Senate race, poll shows
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