Texas Senate Race Update
Democrat James Talarico, a candidate for the Texas Senate, is reportedly leading Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton according to a recent Marist survey. Talarico has made headlines with his belief in six biological sexes.
The poll, conducted from September 17 to 20, asked over 1,100 registered voters about their preferences for the upcoming Senate race this November. Talarico received support from 50 percent of respondents, which puts him six points ahead of Paxton, who collected 44 percent. Meanwhile, two percent chose “other,” and four percent were undecided or declined to answer. Interestingly, independents show a strong preference for Talarico, giving him a lead with 55 percent to Paxton’s 35 percent.
There are marked distinctions across age groups, with Gen Z backing Talarico by a significant 56-point margin—74 percent compared to Paxton’s 18 percent. Among millennials, the support is still skewed toward Talarico, at 52 percent versus 36 percent for Paxton.
The situation narrows slightly within Gen X, where Talarico has just a one-point edge—49 percent to 48 percent. However, Baby Boomers and older generations lean toward Paxton, preferring him by a margin of 23 points.
Despite identifying as a Christian, Talarico seems to struggle with support from evangelical Christians, with a significant 75 percent backing Paxton while only 22 percent support Talarico.
The survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.
Talarico faces criticism for his opinions surrounding various controversial topics, including his stance on child medical care and his views influenced by Rev. Jim Rigby, his pastor at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Austin. In a sermon that resurfaced recently, Rigby expressed skepticism about the resurrection of Jesus, suggesting instead that the deeper message is to acknowledge the sacredness in all beings, even plants.
This has raised eyebrows, particularly among those who prioritize traditional Christian beliefs. Rigby also mentioned his alignment with atheists, aligning with Talarico’s views that some argue diverge from biblical teachings.
As of the latest averages from RealClearPolling, Talarico maintains an average lead of 2.8 percent over Paxton.
