Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton Going in Different Directions in New Texas Poll
Paxton's suppoort slipped in a new poll of Texas, as the Lone Star State emerges as a new midterm battleground.
Texas is poised to become a more competitive midterm battleground, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by Texas Public Opinion Research (TPOR), found Republican Governor Greg Abbott's lead over Democrat Gina Hinojosa widening, while Republican Ken Paxton fell further behind Democrat James Talarico in the Senate race. Abbott is now viewed as the favorite against Hinojosa, though some polls suggest the race is tightening.
However, Paxton's support is down by 13 points compared to Abbott, which could prove problematic for him. Professor Brandon Rottinghaus of the University of Houston noted that the 13-point gap between Paxton and Abbott indicates it's not just a generic Republican issue, but a Paxton-specific problem. His controversies, unfavorable ratings, and struggles in winning independents are hindering his performance.
The poll also found that Talarico holds a 6-point lead over Paxton, with independents showing a preference for Talarico. Paxton has faced personal scandals, including an impeachment in 2023 over bribery and abuse of public trust. Despite these challenges, a majority of Republicans still intend to vote for Paxton. The poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters from August 21 to 24, 2026, with a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.
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