Texas Senate candidates make final push in closely watched tossup race

Democratic candidate James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton have entered the final days of the Texas U.S. Senate race as voters make their choices ahead of Election Day. Early voting totals across the United States were approaching 50 million heading into the weekend, PBS NewsHour reported, while NewsNation noted that early voting in Texas has exceeded 6.7 million. [3][10]

The campaign has become a high-stakes battle for both parties. BBC News reported that the election is a 500 million dollar race that may determine which party controls Congress next year. According to the Irish Examiner, Talarico is running on a platform focused on affordability, immigration, and political corruption. [1][5]

BBC News and the Irish Examiner both report that Democrats are trying to break a winning streak for Republicans in Texas statewide elections that has lasted for more than three decades. AP News reported that latest polling shows Paxton slightly ahead of Talarico, while PBS NewsHour and ABC News reported that former President Donald Trump is supporting the Republican campaign virtually rather than in person. [1][2][3][5][9]

Talarico is a 37-year-old state representative, Presbyterian seminarian, and educator who won the Democratic primary on March 4, 2026. Fox Business reported that he held a campaign rally in Texas alongside Gina Hinojosa as the race entered its final stretch. [1][4][13][16]

The outcome of the contest is seen as a key test of voter sentiments. PBS NewsHour reported that the tossup race has become a significant measure of voters' frustration with Donald Trump's leadership as his second presidential term continues. [3]