Poll Reveals GOP Divisions in Texas Senate Race

A Fox News Poll conducted from July 23-27, 2026, indicates that the Texas Senate race is competitive, with Democratic candidate James Talarico holding a slight lead over Republican candidate Ken Paxton. The poll shows Talarico at 51% and Paxton at 48%, within the margin of sampling error. The survey highlights concerns among voters regarding Paxton's character, with 59% expressing worries about his suitability for the Senate compared to 47% who are concerned about Talarico's extremism. Additionally, 68% of independents and 98% of Democrats support Talarico, while 89% of Republicans back Paxton. The poll also reveals that Talarico has stronger support among younger voters, women, and Hispanic voters, while Paxton is favored by White evangelical Christians and rural voters. In the governor's race, incumbent Republican Greg Abbott is slightly ahead of Democrat Gina Hinojosa, with Abbott receiving 50% and Hinojosa 49%. The survey included 1,006 Texas registered voters and has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.