Democrat James Talarico has taken a narrow lead over Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, according to a new poll. The latest ken paxton vs james talarico polls show Talarico receiving 48% support among likely voters, compared with 44% for Paxton, keeping the closely watched Texas Senate race competitive.
Talarico Holds Overall Lead
The results come from an AARP poll of 895 likely Texas voters conducted from August 30 through September 1. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. Eight percent of voters remained undecided.
Talarico’s four-point advantage shows that the contest could be competitive in November. The race is drawing national attention because Texas has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1992, making the contest an important test for both parties.
However, the poll also highlights a major difference among age groups.
Paxton Leads Among Older Voters
While Talarico leads overall, Paxton has a significant advantage among voters age 50 and older. Paxton receives 53% support from that group, compared with 40% for Talarico.
Older voters could play an especially important role because they report being more motivated to participate in the election. According to the AARP survey, 84% of voters age 50 and older described themselves as extremely motivated to vote, compared with 70% of voters under 50.
The findings suggest that both campaigns will likely focus heavily on older Texans and their concerns during the final weeks of the campaign.
Economy and Social Security Remain Key Issues
Affordability is one of the major concerns among older voters. The AARP survey found that Social Security, health care costs and rising prices are among the issues receiving significant attention from voters age 50 and older.
Nearly 60% of those voters said Social Security is or will become a major source of household income. The poll also found strong support for candidates who promise to protect Social Security benefits and address health care costs.
With Talarico leading statewide but Paxton holding a strong advantage among older voters, the Texas Senate race remains highly competitive. Both candidates have an opportunity to gain support as voters weigh economic concerns and prepare for the November election.
Source : usatoday.com
