{"id":476,"date":"2026-05-18T16:07:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usrelocationpost.com\/?p=476"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:07:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:07:04","slug":"james-talaricos-chances-against-cornyn-vs-paxton-a-week-before-runoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usrelocationpost.com\/?p=476","title":{"rendered":"James Talarico\u2019s Chances Against Cornyn vs. Paxton a Week Before Runoff"},"content":{"rendered":"

Democrat James Talarico is in striking distance of flipping Texas, according to a new poll of the Lone Star State\u2019s 2026 Senate race released ahead of the Republican runoff between Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.<\/p>

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Democrats believe a favorable national environment, a weakened GOP nominee and reversion among Hispanic and Latino voters that shifted rightward in 2024 could create a perfect storm for them to flip Texas in the midterm elections. Texas has been a site of Democratic ambitions for several election cycles, but Republicans have held onto their iron grip of the state. However, the new poll from Texas Southern University suggests that grip could be slipping ahead of the midterms.<\/p>

Talarico won his Democratic primary in early March, but Cornyn and Paxton are headed to a runoff in the Republican primary on May 26.<\/p>

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James Talarico vs. John Cornyn, Ken Paxton: What New Poll Found<\/h2>

The new poll, which surveyed 1,223 likely voters from April 22 to May 6, suggests Republicans are set for a competitive race against Talarico regardless of whether Cornyn and Paxton prevail in the GOP runoff.<\/p>

Cornyn held a single-point lead, receiving 45 percent support compared to Talarico\u2019s 44 percent in the general election matchup, according to the poll. Libertarian candidate Ted Brown received 3 percent, while 8 percent were still unsure of who they would support.<\/p>

Paxton and Talarico were tied, each holding 45 percent support in the new poll. In that matchup, Brown\u2019s support dropped to 2 percent, while 8 percent were still not sure who they would vote for in November.<\/p>

The poll signals that the race is likely to be close and that undecided voters will be key in its final outcome. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.<\/p>

Mark Jones, one of the authors of the poll, told Newsweek <\/em>on Monday that it reflects “collateral damage” stemming from the Republican runoff.<\/p>

“One of the negative ramifications of this very bloody primary is that Paxton and Cornyn have essentially done Democrats’ dirty work for them by selling each others’ reputations and images,” he said.<\/p>