James Talarico’s lead over Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state’s Senate race has slipped by one point in two new opinion polls, while the share of undecided voters has fallen sharply.
In a Texas Public Opinion Research survey of 1,007 likely voters conducted from 19‑22 September, Talarico was ahead 49 percent to Paxton’s 44 percent, a five‑point margin that is within the poll’s 3.6 percent error. The earlier August poll of 1,000 voters had shown a six‑point lead for Talarico, 48 percent to Paxton’s 42 percent. Undecided voters dropped from seven percent in August to three percent in September.
A Texas Southern University survey of 1,800 voters taken 15‑19 September reported a one‑point lead for Talarico, 47 percent to Paxton’s 46 percent, with Libertarian Ted Brown at three percent. The margin of error was 2.31 percent. The previous July poll of 1,200 voters had shown a two‑point lead for Talarico, 47 percent to Paxton’s 45 percent, with Brown at two percent. Undecided voters fell from six percent to four percent.
Other pollsters also give Talarico an edge, though several are within the margin of error. Emerson College’s 1,000‑voter poll (12‑14 September) showed a one‑point lead; AARP’s 895‑voter survey (30 August‑1 September) gave a four‑point lead; and a YouGov/Univision poll of 1,000 registered voters (27 August‑4 September) reported a five‑point advantage.
During a Texas Tribune Festival appearance in Austin, Talarico challenged Paxton to a televised Fox News debate, accusing the former attorney general of “dodging debates all year.” He urged Paxton to face him on Bret Baier’s program.
Federal Election Commission data up to 30 June show Talarico’s campaign has raised $31,853,507, compared with $9,147,100 for Paxton. Forty‑five percent of Talarico’s contributions came from out of state, with California the largest source; Paxton’s out‑of‑state share was 17.1 percent.
With the margin between the candidates shrinking and the number of undecided voters declining, Democrats see a chance to flip the Texas Senate seat—an outcome that could give them control of the chamber in the November midterms.
<small>Source: Yahoo News — read the original story there.</small>
