Texas State Senate

Angela Paxton, a Texas state senator and wife of Attorney General Ken Paxton, is drawing attention with a new campaign ad. The spot is circulating widely online as observers weigh her political ambitions and the prominence of the Paxton name in Texas Republican politics, with reactions splitting along familiar partisan lines.

Texas State Senator Angela Paxton, who is estranged from Attorney General Ken Paxton, appears in a TV ad urging Texans to back the Republican ticket that includes her husband. The New York Times noted she did so without saying his name. The unusual appeal from a estranged spouse endorsing her husband drew wide attention as the election nears.

Forbes reports that Democrats hold early leads in several of the most competitive 2026 midterm Senate races, including contests in Texas, Iowa and Michigan, with its rankings of the hottest races updated daily. The early positioning is drawing attention as both parties begin sizing up the battle for control of the United States Senate in the midterms.

Republicans are pouring money into the Texas Senate race, a contest that Democrats had hoped to make competitive. The spending signals that national GOP strategists see the seat as needing reinforcement, and commentators are debating whether the investment reflects genuine Democratic strength in the state or routine defensive caution in a costly media market.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and state Representative James Talarico are locked in an increasingly heated race for the US Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn. The likely matchup between the conservative incumbent attorney general and the rising Democratic legislator is drawing national attention, with both parties viewing the contest as a bellwether for Texas's shifting political landscape heading into 2026.

Commentators and news outlets are discussing the state of the midterm elections, with attention on polling in key Senate races and a political appearance by Donald Trump in Texas. The conversation focuses on what current polls suggest about control of the Senate and how Trump's Texas trip fits into the broader midterm campaign landscape.

CNN is asking the public to submit questions for James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate seat in Texas. Talarico, a state lawmaker, is running in the 2026 race, and the callout suggests the outlet plans to put audience questions to him ahead of the contest.

Election Day is approaching in Texas without any debates having been held in the races for US Senate and governor. The absence of head-to-head contests between the candidates has drawn attention, as debates are traditionally a fixture of statewide campaigns in the state and a chance for voters to compare contenders directly before casting ballots.

New polling in Texas shows Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton in the state's US Senate race, with the contest described as tightening. Commenters are weighing what a Democratic lead in a traditionally red state would mean for the 2026 midterms, with many noting Paxton's legal controversies as a possible drag on his candidacy.

Senate Republicans are setting political spending records in Texas through an aggressive wave of advertising in support of Attorney General Ken Paxton. The ad-buying binge has drawn attention for the scale of outlay involved, making it one of the most expensive Senate GOP political pushes in the state's history.

New polling reported by the New York Times suggests Senate races in traditionally Republican states — including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Alaska and Iowa — are leaning toward Democratic candidates. The findings point to an unexpectedly competitive Senate map ahead of the midterm elections, challenging assumptions that these deep-red states are safe for Republicans and fueling debate about a possible broader Democratic surge.