Ken Paxton, James Talarico tied in Texas Senate race
A Quantus Insights poll shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and state Rep. James Talarico tied for the 2026 U.S. Senate seat, with early voting ending Friday.
Key points
- Paxton 48.7%, Talarico 47.6% in a 1,221‑voter poll
- Talarico leads among women, independents and Hispanic voters
- Paxton leads among men, suburban and rural voters
- Early voting ends Friday, polls open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. on Nov. 3
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat state Rep. James Talarico are contesting the 2026 U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn.
Polls have shown the race is in a dead heat, with recent non‑partisan surveys indicating a very close margin between the two candidates.
A Quantus Insights poll of 1,221 likely voters conducted between Oct. 26 and Oct. 28 found Paxton at 48.7% and Talarico at 47.6%, with 2.2% undecided. The poll’s margin of error is +/- 3.2%.
The same poll reported that respondents were 46.7% Republican, 39.4% Democrat and 13.9% independent. It also noted that Talarico leads among women, independents and Hispanic voters, while Paxton leads among men, suburban and rural voters.
Early voting in Texas ends at 7 p.m. Friday, and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Your questions, answered
Who is leading the Texas Senate race according to the latest poll?
The poll shows Ken Paxton and James Talarico tied, with Paxton at 48.7% and Talarico at 47.6%.
What are the early voting hours in Texas?
Early voting ends at 7 p.m. on Friday, and Election Day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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