Story perspectives

Poll Shows Democrat James Talarico Leading Ken Paxton in Texas

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 12:09 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Democrat James Talarico leads Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Senate race.
A September 13 SoCal poll shows Talarico at 50% versus Paxton’s 45%.
Talarico has raised $68.6 million and holds $21.5 million cash, while Paxton raised $9.2 million with $1.8 million cash.
Prediction markets give Talarico a 53-56% chance, and forecasters assign him a 55-58% probability.

History

Historical Context

In the 1994 Republican wave, Democrat Dan Morales retained the Texas attorney-general post, winning 53.7% of the vote against Republican Don Wittig. That same cycle saw George W. Bush defeat incumbent Governor Ann Richards, marking a broader shift toward GOP control. The 1994 outcome remains the last Democratic win for Texas attorney general as of 2026.

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Story summary

U.S. Democrat James Talarico leads Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Senate race.
A September 13 SoCal poll shows Talarico at 50% versus Paxton’s 45%.
Talarico has raised $68.6 million and holds $21.5 million cash, while Paxton raised $9.2 million with $1.8 million cash.
Prediction markets give Talarico a 53-56% chance, and forecasters assign him a 55-58% probability.

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