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Texas Senate Race Between Paxton and Talarico Remains Close in Final Weeks
What happened
The 2026 Texas U.S. Senate race between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico remains competitive with roughly two weeks until the midterm elections. Multiple polls show the race within a close margin, with different surveys showing different candidates ahead. No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1988.
Side by side
Left-leaning outlets lead with Paxton's "scandal-plagued" past and describe him as "uniquely ill-chosen as a candidate," focusing on suburban women who are "turned off" by the Republican. They emphasize Trump's "desperate efforts" to support his "must-win" candidate.
- GUA Democratic win in Texas is a long shot – but Ken Paxton’s weakness is obvious | Moira DoneganThe Guardian · Left
- TDBSuburban Women Drift From Ken Paxton in Texas Senate RaceThe Daily Beast · Left
- GUCan Ken Paxton outrun a trail of scandal to win US Senate seat in ruby-red Texas?The Guardian · Left
- TDBTrump Goes to Desperate Efforts for His Must-Win MAGA CandidateThe Daily Beast · Left
- TDBScott Jennings Makes Shock Admission on Ken PaxtonThe Daily Beast · Left
- CBSTexas Senate race close to tied between James Talarico, Ken Paxton, CBS News poll findsCBS News · Lean Left
No outlet on this side covered it.
Right-leaning outlets describe Talarico as "far-left" and frame the story around whether Republicans can maintain control, with one saying prediction markets "flash a warning." They attribute any Paxton difficulties to Republican internal issues, with one headline stating "Republicans are to blame" for the close race.
- WEXJames Talarico is close to taking Texas. Republicans are to blameWashington Examiner · Lean Right
- WEXTalarico’s Texas-sized opening: Paxton can’t unite Republican voteWashington Examiner · Lean Right
- BLZWith 12 days left, prediction markets flash a warning in TexasBlaze Media · Right
- BRTPoll Shows Ken Paxton Narrowly Leading James Talarico in Texas U.S. Senate RaceBreitbart News · Right
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