Ken Paxton Leads James Talarico in Texas Senate Poll

Republican Ken Paxton currently leads Democrat James Talarico in a new Texas Senate poll, with 47.2 percent compared to 46.7 percent. This represents the most expensive contest of the 2026 midterm cycle. Meanwhile, supporters of Paxton promoted a debunked conspiracy claiming Talarico was treated for mental illness in Ohio while he was actually recovering from the flu. This false narrative was shared by social media influencers, Elon Musk, and various White House officials.