Summary
- Beto
O’Rourke leads early Texas Senate Democratic primary poll. - Poll
shows 27% support despite no official candidacy announcement. - Close
behind him: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett with 26%. - Declared
candidates Colin Allred and James Talarico lag far behind.
Many Texans are still unsure of their vote’s outcome in the
fiercely disputed U.S. Senate race, with the 2026 midterm primary less than six
months away.
According to a recent survey by the independent Texas Public
Opinion Research, the majority of Texas voters are still unsure or are
supporting candidates who have not yet entered the race.
Between August 27 and August 29, 843 Texas voters
participated in the survey.
With 27% of respondents giving former congressman and
gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke high marks, Texas Democrats are hoping he
would enter the race. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, came in second with
26% of respondents.
Despite not having formally entered the Senate race, they
both scored much higher than the two contenders vying for the Democratic
nomination: state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, who only received 7% of the
vote, and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, who lost his attempt to
unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz two years ago, who received 13%.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton trailed
incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) by 32% to 26% on the Republican
ticket. For the first time, the poll shows Cornyn leading Paxton by several
percentage points.
Nevertheless, a large percentage of voters 29% of
Republicans and 18% of Democrats remain unsure.
What impact would O’Rourke or Crockett have on the
Democratic primary field?
Although the two have yet to confirm their candidacies
publicly, O’Rourke is leading at 27% and Crockett closely trailing at 26% in
hypothetical primary polls, far ahead of candidates that have confirmed their
candidacies.
O’Rourke and Crockett’s name recognition and established
political identities make this unfavorable for lesser-known candidates, such as
Colin Allred and James Talarico, who trail in support.
O’Rourke, who came close to defeating Ted Cruz in 2018, is a
very popular and viable candidate appealing to many demographics of the
Democratic base.
Crockett has established a great reputation as a fighter on
progressive issues and is likely well positioned to mobilize the Democratic
electorate.
