Beyond the 806
Texas Senate race is now a toss-up. Here's what it means for November - USA Today
Recent polling shows the Texas U.S.
The shift follows an August 20 Cook Political Report update that also moved the Texas governor's race from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican," suggesting broader GOP anxiety about statewide races this cycle. The Senate seat is currently held by John Cornyn, and both Paxton and Talarico are competing to replace him.
For Lubbock voters, a competitive statewide Senate race carries real weight. Lubbock County runs deep red, and a race this close means turnout here could matter more than usual. When Texas Senate races are foregone conclusions, low-information voters stay home, but a toss-up changes that calculus.
Texas hasn't sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, making the Cook Political Report's toss-up designation one of the more striking political developments the state has seen in decades.
Common questions
Who is running for the Texas U.S. Senate seat and why is it suddenly competitive?
- Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are competing to replace John Cornyn. Recent polling shows the race has tightened to a statistical tie, leading both the Cook Political Report and Fox News to reclassify it as a toss-up as of August 20.
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