Talarico Leads Paxton in Texas Senate Poll

A Texas Southern University poll released August 4 shows Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico leading Republican nominee Ken Paxton 47% to 45% in a statewide race. Talarico holds a significant advantage among likely Black voters, with 79% supporting him compared to 12% for Paxton.

The data suggests minimal electoral damage following Talarico's contentious primary victory over Jasmine Crockett. Only 7% of Black Texans reported being less likely to vote in the November midterms because of Crockett's defeat. However, 77% of surveyed Black voters believe the Democratic Party takes them for granted.

In response to these racial tensions and criticisms from figures like State Representative Jolanda Jones, Talarico pledged a $25 million investment in Black voter outreach. While Talarico leads the Senate race, Republicans continue to maintain single-digit leads in other statewide contests.