Story perspectives

Paxton and Talarico Tie at 45% in Texas Senate Poll

By Drooid · Oct 10, 2026, 11:14 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Leaked audio exposes rift

A UMass Lowell/YouGov poll released on Oct 8 2026 shows Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico tied at 45 % in the Texas Senate race.
The coverage highlights unprecedented GOP spending and internal party discord surrounding Paxton’s candidacy.
Republicans have contributed more than $100 million to the Texas Senate race.
Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994.
Leaked audio captured Paxton saying Senator John Cornyn wants him to lose.

Right

GOP Fundraising Gap

A UMass Lowell/YouGov poll released on Oct 8 2026 shows Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico tied at 45 % in the Texas U.S. Senate race.
Republican campaign officials warn of a fundraising shortfall and urge donors to increase contributions to offset the Democratic spending advantage.
President Donald Trump visited San Antonio, calling Paxton “the greatest attorney general in United States.”
A Republican memo reported GOP spending $329 million statewide versus Democrats’ $134 million.

History

Historical Context

In 1961, after Lyndon Johnson left the Senate to become vice president, Republican John Tower won the special election, securing 50.6% of the runoff vote and becoming Texas’s first GOP senator since Reconstruction. His victory broke the Solid South’s Democratic monopoly and foreshadowed the fundraising-driven partisan swings that now shape contests such as the 2026 Senate race.

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Leaked audio exposes rift

A UMass Lowell/YouGov poll released on Oct 8 2026 shows Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico tied at 45 % in the Texas Senate race.
The coverage highlights unprecedented GOP spending and internal party discord surrounding Paxton’s candidacy.
Republicans have contributed more than $100 million to the Texas Senate race.
Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994.
Leaked audio captured Paxton saying Senator John Cornyn wants him to lose.

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