TX-SEN: Talarico leads Cornyn and Paxton in general election matchups

[RandySF]

James Talarico narrowly beats both Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton in a general election, according to an internal campaign poll shared first with POLITICO. In a hypothetical general election matchup, Talarico leads Cornyn by 2 points — 43 percent to 41 percent — and leads Paxton by just 1 point, 44 percent to 43 percent.

The poll validates what some in the MAGA movement have argued is not a significant difference when it comes to electability between Cornyn and Paxton, with the results indicating Paxton holds a slight edge.

The poll of 900 likely voters, conducted by Impact Research from March 12-17, shows both Cornyn and Paxton are “deeply unpopular,” according to the memo.

Paxton is viewed unfavorably by an 18-point margin (37 percent favorable to 55 percent unfavorable), and Cornyn faces even higher negatives, facing a 33-point deficit (27 percent favorable to 60 percent unfavorable). Both men are more disliked than Sen. Ted Cruz, who carries a 47 percent favorable to 52 percent unfavorable split.




https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/03/20/congress/texas-senate-talarico-cornyn-paxton-poll-00837336

[Skittles]

1. for sure repukes will step up on their voting shenanigans

count on it

[PeaceWave]

2. Talarico is the right Democratic candidate for statewide office in Texas...

In the same way that Graham Platner may well be the right Democratic candidate for statewide office in Maine (as much as I hate to admit this since Platner is a misogynistic Nazi who appears to hit the sauce a little too often). So, the take away is that every state electorate has to be treated differently, with its own idiosyncrasies and, in the end, it won't matter what a Democratic voter in Florida or California (like me) thinks.

[Pototan]

5. I resent you calling

Platner a "misogynistic Nazi".

I like both Democratic candidates in Maine, and we need to pull together to win back the Senate. This kind of talk on this kind of platform is certainly counter-productive.

[femmedem]

6. Elizabeth Warren endorsed Platner. Surely you don't think she would endorse him

if your characterization was correct.

https://mainemorningstar.com/briefs/sen-elizabeth-warren-endorses-graham-platner-in-heated-senate-primary/

[Pototan]

7. Exactly

[msongs]

3. toss up at best from that poll

[JI7]

4. I think Cornyn is weaker because the right wing doesn't like him and even if they don't vote for

the Democratic candidate they might just not vote or vote third party.

Talarico also doesn't "scare" them like some others that they view as being against them culturally.

The right wing usually needs some kind of minority democrat for their attacks to work .