The Senate, governor's race, and three South Texas districts are under scrutiny as election polls show significant differences between the broader electorate and Hispanic voters.
Texas will vote on November 3, with five contests drawing particular attention: the Senate, governor's race, and congressional districts TX-15, TX-28, and TX-34.
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Texas 2026 Elections: Candidates, Polls and Five Key Races to Watch – PHOTO: Wikipedia/ Official websites of candidates Democrat James Talarico faces Republican Ken Paxton, the current attorney general, in a race where recent Texas election polls show relatively narrow differences.
Emerson College/Nexstar registered 47% for Talarico and 46% for Paxton among 1,000 likely voters surveyed from September 12 to 14. ReconMR found 49%-43% among 614 likely voters.
The economy occupies a significant part of the debate. Talarico proposes, among other measures, universal childcare, medical debt relief, and assistance for homebuyers.
Paxton proposes tax deductions related to housing, healthcare, and families.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott is seeking another term against Democratic state representative Gina Hinojosa.
Texas election polls do not point in the same direction: Emerson/Nexstar registered 49%-46% for Abbott, while ReconMR found 49%-45% for Hinojosa.
Hinojosa has focused part of her campaign on public schools, teacher salaries, and access to healthcare. Abbott enters the election defending his record as governor and Republican policies.
Three districts with large Hispanic populations offer another window into the electoral behavior of South Texas in the 2026 elections.
In TX-15, Republican Monica De La Cruz faces Democrat Bobby Pulido. In TX-28, Democrat Henry Cuellar faces Republican Tano Tijerina; in TX-34, Vicente Gonzalez competes against Eric Flores.
The Cook/TelevisaUnivision survey, conducted from August 26 to September 3 among 1,000 likely Hispanic voters, found that the economy ranked above immigration and ICE among their electoral concerns.
Another set of results shows that reducing healthcare costs and lowering taxes for workers are among the economic priorities measured.
Until then, attention will remain on whether the differences recorded among Hispanic voters persist and how the five contests develop.
The question will remain open until the votes are counted: How significant will the Hispanic vote be in the Texas elections?
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SOURCE: Texas Tribune / Cook Political
