Texas Democrats see a glimmer of hope in a new poll that suggests they may be able to break their long losing streak in the state's U.S. Senate elections.
The poll, conducted by a leading survey firm, shows Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and Republican nominee Ken Paxton tied at 47% support among likely voters in Texas. This is the closest a Democrat has come to winning a Senate election in the state in nearly four decades.
Paxton, the longtime state attorney general, is facing off against Talarico, a state representative considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. The poll points to some troubling signs for Paxton, who has faced a slew of scandals and legal problems over the past decade.
The majority of respondents said Paxton has poor character or the wrong kind of moral values, and half said he is too extreme. Additionally, his support is below the 50% of respondents who said they preferred Republicans to control the Senate next year.
The poll also shows Talarico winning the support of 61% of Hispanic voters and leading Paxton by 27 points among independents. Talarico also holds a significant lead among female voters, winning by 18 points, while Paxton leads among male voters by the same margin.
Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, has emerged as the top Democratic fundraiser in Senate races, hauling in a massive $27 million in the first three months of this year. However, Republicans have repeatedly targeted Talarico, spotlighting his past controversial comments.
The poll suggests that the Democratic Party brand may impede Talarico, with a majority of respondents seeing Democrats as too far to the left. Additionally, following a divisive primary, 12% of Black voters have a negative opinion of Talarico, who is White.
However, likely helping Talarico is the economy, with 60% of those questioned giving a thumbs down to how Trump was handling cost-of-living issues. Talarico is highlighting economic concerns over soaring prices, saying in a new ad that "too many Texans feel like they're drowning.
