Early voting is underway in a Texas U.S. Senate race that a CBS News/YouGov poll found too close to establish a leader, with the contest carrying implications for control of the chamber.
Democratic state Rep. James Talarico had 51% support among likely voters, compared with 49% for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate. The two-point difference fell within the poll’s 3.5-percentage-point margin of error for likely voters.
CBS and YouGov surveyed 1,492 registered voters from Oct. 8-16, before Texas began in-person early voting on Oct. 19. The result adds to earlier coverage of polling and turnout in the race.
The same survey found that 59% of likely Texas voters said Paxton did not have the right personal character to serve as senator, while 45% said that of Talarico. Those responses measured views of the candidates’ character, separate from the close ballot result.
The Texas Secretary of State’s election calendar lists Oct. 30 as the final day of in-person early voting. Election Day is Nov. 3.
