Two new Texas polls put James Talarico ahead of Ken Paxton by five points (49%-44%) and one (47%-46%); each lead is down one point from that pollster’s previous survey, but both changes are within the margin of error. Undecided shares also fell.
Texas Public Opinion Research surveyed 1,007 likely voters Sept. 19–22, with a 3.6-point margin of error; its August poll had Talarico ahead 48%-42%. Texas Southern University surveyed 1,800 likely voters Sept. 15–19, with a 2.31-point margin; its late-July poll showed a 47%-45% lead. Undecided voters fell from 7% to 3% in the first poll and from 6% to 4% in the second. Texas Southern put Libertarian Ted Brown at 3%, up from 2%.
The article says eight pollsters overall showed Talarico ahead, though several results were within their margins of error. At the Texas Tribune Festival on Thursday, Talarico challenged Paxton to a televised Fox News debate and accused him of avoiding debates all year. Federal Election Commission figures through June 30 showed Talarico’s campaign raised $31.85 million, compared with $9.15 million for Paxton; out-of-state donations accounted for 45% and 17.1%, respectively.
