Poll Finds James Talarico Holds Seven-Point Lead Over Ken Paxton With Hispanic Business Owners
A new survey suggests Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is gaining support among a key Texas voting bloc, with Hispanic business owners favoring him over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton by seven percentage points.
According to a survey published by POLITICO, Talarico holds a seven-point lead over Paxton among Hispanic business owners in Texas. The survey included more than 1,000 respondents, with a plurality identifying themselves as Republicans.
The survey also found that nearly one in four respondents who supported U.S. Sen. John Cornyn during the Republican primary now say they plan to vote for Talarico in the general election.
Poll Highlights Hispanic Business Community
POLITICO described the findings as one of the strongest indicators yet that Paxton may face challenges within Texas’ Hispanic business community.
The publication reported that the results come amid broader signs that some Hispanic voters nationwide have shifted away from Paxton, citing concerns over immigration policies under the Trump administration and ongoing economic pressures affecting businesses and families.
Talarico Focuses on Small Businesses
In response to the survey, Talarico said his campaign is focused on lowering costs for Texans while addressing immigration reform.
“We should be supporting Hispanic small businesses — not crushing them under the weight of high costs and failed immigration policies,” Talarico said.
He continued:
Here’s my message to Hispanic communities across Texas: if you feel like you’ve been conned, if you feel like you’ve been let down by both political parties, if you feel like politicians aren’t doing anything to lower your costs or fix this broken immigration system — you’ve got a place in this campaign.
General Election Campaign Continues
The survey represents another data point in what is expected to be one of the nation’s most closely watched U.S. Senate races this November.
Paxton secured the Republican nomination earlier this year after defeating longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary. Talarico, a Democratic state representative from Austin, is campaigning on issues including affordability, healthcare, public education and immigration reform.
As the general election campaign continues, both candidates are expected to intensify outreach efforts to Hispanic voters and small business owners, groups that could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the statewide race.
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