# Senate races 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 28, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534 "2025-01-28T15:04:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/141 "2026-05-19T19:53:22Z")
It’s only one data point, but I often like to keep my eye on Predictit just to get a sense of “which way the wind is blowing”. So far there’s been a shift in a good direction for Talarico (D) from 41% to 46% since the endorsement earlier today. > **[PredictIt](https://www.predictit.org/markets/detail/8173/Which-party-will-win-the-2026-US-Senate-election-in-Texas)** ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/142 "2026-05-20T02:50:04Z")
I hope Talarico beats the heck out of Trump’s pick in Texas, and does it with the _true_ wisdom and grace of Jesus on his side. (I mean, really, have you heard James speak about his faith? We need liberal Christians in national government.) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/143 "2026-05-20T02:59:34Z")
Talarico **beating the heck** out of Paxton (or Cornyn) in the Fall is a very long shot. I’ll be happy if he beats the GOP candidate by 1 vote. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/144 "2026-05-20T19:13:13Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I’ll be happy if he beats the GOP candidate by 1 vote. I understand what you mean, but if he did somehow win by one vote (or even a slightly larger but small number), the Texas GOP will ratfuck him out of it, guaranteed. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/145 "2026-05-21T03:07:39Z")
It is likely going to be very close, not a blow out. However, the Abbot/Patrick cabal will try to find a way to challenge the results they dislike on DJT’s instruction. Even if Talarico were to win by a million votes that bunch of scum will still try to overturn it. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/146 "2026-05-22T02:33:55Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > …Abbot/Patrick cabal… I always thought of it as the three-headed Abbot / Patrick / Paxton hydra. (the last one currently the Texas AG and right now primarying against John Cornyn) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/147 "2026-05-27T00:52:46Z")
Looks like Texas will be called the second the polls close. Roughly 63-37 with nearly half the vote in. A gift for Democrats if indeed it is possible for a Democrat to win a statewide race in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/148 "2026-05-27T00:56:59Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > A gift for Democrats if indeed it is possible for a Democrat to win a statewide race in Texas. Big IF. A Ken Paxton win in the general would only be less depressing than a Trump win because of his more limited scope to cause damage and grift as a Senator. But if you put a gun to my head I’d be forced to put money on Paxton. Texas is a very uphill climb for Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/149 "2026-05-27T01:05:37Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Big IF. A Ken Paxton win in the general would only be less depressing than a Trump win because of his more limited scope to cause damage and grift as a Senator. Talarico can win vs Paxton. Doesnt mean he will- > **[Texas Democrat Talarico leads senator Cornyn and AG Paxton in Senate race poll](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/28/texas-senate-talarico-leads-race-cornyn-paxton)** > > TPOR poll of 1,018 likely voters puts Talarico ahead of John Cornyn by three percentage points and Ken Paxton by five > Democrats’ hopes of winning control of the [US Senate](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-senate) in November’s [midterm elections](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-midterm-elections-2026) have been boosted by a poll showing James Talarico, the party’s candidate in [Texas](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/texas), leading in a head-to-head matchup against two potential Republican opponents. > > [The Texas Public Opinion Research](https://mailchi.mp/b77074b391d1/tpor-gen-elect?e=214fbc1661) (TPOR) survey has Talarico, a Democratic state legislator, ahead of the GOP incumbent senator, [John Cornyn](https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/about/about-john-cornyn/), and his internal party challenger, Ken Paxton, in one-on-one contests. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/150 "2026-05-27T01:06:28Z")
I’ll take a 40% chance to beat Paxton over a 5% chance to beat Cornyn. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/151 "2026-05-27T01:48:56Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Texas is a very uphill climb for Democrats. Yes it is but to my mind Talarico is the best chance the Democrats have to change the status quo. He is a Democrat who talks about his faith and has strong support among Latinos, Black voters, college educated voters and independents. Not something you see every day quite frankly, particularly in Texas. I predict it will be an incredibly close race. And if Paxton wins I expect him to be the GOP nominee for President in 2028. After all he is supremely corrupt, arrogant, a liar and philanderer. Remind you of anyone? ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/152 "2026-05-27T01:55:40Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > And if Paxton wins I expect him to be the GOP nominee for President in 2028. After all he is supremely corrupt, arrogant, a liar and philanderer. Remind you of anyone? I was hoping to not have nightmares tonight 😢 ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/153 "2026-05-27T22:23:25Z")
The gloves have come off in the Texas Senatorial race. DNC: “Fired up. Ready to go. It’s time to take back Texas.” Stephen Miller: “The Democrats made history in Texas by nominating their first transgender senate candidate.” DNC: “shut up you ugly fuck” > **[‘Shut Up You Ugly F\*ck’: DNC’s Official X Account Wildly Berates Trump...](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shut-ugly-f-ck-dnc-184516912.html)** > > The official Twitter/X account for the DNC posted a vulgar insult Wednesday in response to a tweet from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/154 "2026-05-27T22:27:04Z")
“Lying fuck” would be better. He can’t help his inner Gestapo agent shows through. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/155 "2026-05-27T23:28:14Z")
What’s he even talking about? Is he trying to insult a candidate by saying that they don’t match his notion of gender norms? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/156 "2026-05-28T02:13:29Z")
Last night in his victory speech Paxton claimed Talarico is running the first vegan campaign for Senate. He also had multiple nicknames for him that were so stupid I can’t remember any of them just that they all implied Talarico is trans or will encourage parents to make their children transgender. They know Paxton can’t run on actual issues so they are going for anti-trans dog whistles in the hope it will scare Texans into voting overwhelmingly for the GOP. I’m not sure this will work out the way they expect. Add that Talarico appears to be one of the most decent, intelligent and upstanding individuals I’ve seen run for office in a long time. And he talks about his Christian faith in a way I haven’t heard a Democrat do in recent memory. The GOP playbook in this race reeks of desperation. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/157 "2026-05-28T02:26:15Z")
It’s rather telling that Paxton uses “vegan campaign” as an epithet. Just what the hell is that anyway? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/158 "2026-05-28T02:30:05Z")
I’d gladly vote for James Talarico for president if he ever runs, to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/159 "2026-05-28T02:33:33Z")
IOW, “woke.” 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534/160 "2026-05-28T02:38:42Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > It’s rather telling that Paxton uses “vegan campaign” as an epithet. Just what the hell is that anyway? It’s obviously stupid but in Texas, as in other red states, it is a signifier of someone being a radical leftist. I think most Texans are more intelligent than a troll like Paxton realizes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-races-2026/1013534.md?page=9)