Paxton trails Talarico by 2 points in new Texas Senate poll

Three recent polls have demonstrated Democrat James Talarico trailing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's pivotal Senate race. The most recent poll, conducted by the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University, shows Talarico ahead of his Republican opponent by 47%-45%. The Republican Party establishment hasn't shown signs of panic yet, but the latest survey reveals concerning trends for Paxton, particularly among white and Latino voters.

White voters, who make up 60% of the modeled midterm electorate, are supporting Paxton by only 14 points, a low figure for a Texas Republican. Additionally, Paxton is lagging behind Talarico among Latino voters, who represent 21% of the electorate. President Trump's endorsement of Paxton at the last moment, coupled with his loss in the recent Republican primary to Talarico, has raised concerns about the GOP's ability to secure a victory in the November general election.

Despite Paxton's history of winning statewide elections in Texas, his character issues, including corruption charges and a messy divorce, have not deterred voters from supporting him.