Democrats See Gains in Texas, Alaska Senate Polls
New surveys show Democratic candidates reaching the 50% mark in two GOP-held Senate seats as the November election nears.
Democratic candidates James Talarico in Texas and Mary Peltola in Alaska have reached or surpassed 50% in new polls, signaling potential gains for the party in the battle for Senate control ahead of the November elections. The findings come as the election is just a month away and could impact the balance of power in Washington.
In Texas, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico is leading Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton with 51% to 45%, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released Saturday. President Trump's approval rating in the state stands at 40%, with 57% disapproving. The poll, which surveyed five Republican-held Senate seats, showed Talarico with a six-point advantage, a margin slightly larger than his edge in the RealClearPolitics polling average for the Republican-leaning state. A Marist College poll last week also reported Talarico ahead by six points.
Paxton was recently captured on a recording at a fundraiser where he reportedly told donors and lobbyists that "everybody's numbers dropped" after a GOP midterm convention in Dallas where Trump spoke. This statement came after the convention.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola holds a 50% to 43% lead over Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, a seven-point advantage that surpasses the poll's margin of error. This poll was released days after the recording of Paxton surfaced.
The New York Times/Siena College poll also examined other key Senate races. In Ohio, former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown leads Republican Sen. Jon Husted 49% to 46%. In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican, has a narrow 48% to 47% lead over Democrat Josh Turk. Kansas, a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in a century, shows Sen. Roger Marshall in a 45-45 tie with Democrat Adam Hamilton.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the Senate Leadership Fund, an organization associated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, announced it was shifting $10 million from the North Carolina Senate race to Kansas. This move aims to bolster Republican efforts in the Kansas race. In North Carolina, former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is leading Republican Michael Whatley.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. To gain control, Democrats would need to secure a net gain of four seats. The article also noted that Maine Sen. Susan Collins is facing a challenge from Democrat Troy Jackson, with recent polling showing a 50-50 tie. Tossup races are also occurring in New Hampshire and Michigan, where Republicans are seeking to flip seats currently held by Democrats.