Story perspectives

September 2026 Polls Show Talarico Narrowly Leading Paxton

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 11:31 PM UTC · How we work

Center

FCC Threat Allegation

September 2026 polls show Democrat James Talarico holding a narrow lead over Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race.
Talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel posted Talarico’s full September 13 interview on YouTube after the candidate said the FCC threatened him.
SoCal Strategies poll finds Talarico leads independents, Hispanic voters and 18-to-29-year-olds; Paxton leads white voters.
Prediction-market odds on Monday placed Talarico at 52% and Paxton at 48%.

Left

Trump mocks Paxton

September 2026 polls show Democrat James Talarico holding a narrow lead over Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race.
President Donald Trump mocked Paxton’s appearance while endorsing him, presenting the attacks as a way to deflect scrutiny from Paxton’s scandals.
He called Paxton’s dress and interview style unappealing at a White House event on September 2.
Trump claimed Paxton’s poll numbers were “going through the roof,” yet polls show a race.

Blindspot

The SoCal Strategies poll shows Democrat James Talarico leading among independents, Hispanic voters, and 18-to-29-year-olds, while Republican Ken Paxton leads older white voters.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

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FCC Threat Allegation

September 2026 polls show Democrat James Talarico holding a narrow lead over Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race.
Talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel posted Talarico’s full September 13 interview on YouTube after the candidate said the FCC threatened him.
SoCal Strategies poll finds Talarico leads independents, Hispanic voters and 18-to-29-year-olds; Paxton leads white voters.
Prediction-market odds on Monday placed Talarico at 52% and Paxton at 48%.

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