Talarico Leads Paxton 47%-44% in First Texas Senate Poll After GOP Runoff

9 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 29

A Texas Public Opinion Research poll of 1,670 likely voters found Democrat James Talarico ahead of Republican Ken Paxton 47% to 44%, a margin within the survey's 2.8-point error range.
72% of moderates and 64% of independents backed Talarico, while Paxton failed to fully consolidate John Cornyn's runoff voters: 44% moved to Paxton, 30% to Talarico and 23% remained undecided or said they would not vote.
51% of GOP runoff voters planning to support Talarico cited Paxton's criminality or corruption, while smaller shares pointed to his Trump alignment or broader frustration with the Republican Party.
47% of Texans viewed Talarico favorably, versus 38% for Paxton; Trump drew 48% approval in the poll.
23% of voters named affordability and cost of living as their top issue, more than double any other concern, as both campaigns pivot toward the November general election.

Could this race signal a lasting political realignment in Texas beyond a single election?

When living costs are the top concern, why do a candidate's past legal issues still sway voters?