Politics · October 18, 2026
James Talarico is close to taking Texas. Republicans are to blame
Part of: Texas Senate: Paxton vs. Talarico →
Recent polling suggests a competitive race for a Texas U.S. Senate seat between Democratic State Representative James Talarico and Republican incumbent Ken Paxton. Both candidates are actively courting religious voters through faith-based coalitions: Talarico with 'Faithful Texans for Talarico' and Paxton with 'Pastors for Paxton.' While Talarico holds a narrow lead in some polls, the contest highlights deep ideological divisions over economic policy, social issues, and the role of faith in politics. The race has also sparked debate regarding Texas' film subsidies after an actor from the series 'The Chosen' endorsed Talarico.
Read the original coverage
- Washington ExaminerRight
James Talarico is close to taking Texas. Republicans are to blame
Read at Washington Examiner ↗ - CBS NewsCenter-left
CBS News poll shows a Texas toss-up with Talarico, Paxton in tight Senate race
Read at CBS News ↗ - Fox NewsRight
'The Chosen' actor endorses James Talarico, claims candidate reflects real 'Christian values'
Read at Fox News ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- A ReconMR/Siena Research Institute poll shows James Talarico leading Ken Paxton 48% to 44%.
- James Talarico is a 37-year-old Democratic state representative and Presbyterian seminarian.
- Ken Paxton is the Republican incumbent.
- Both candidates have launched faith-based coalitions to attract religious voters.
- Actor Jordan Walker Ross from 'The Chosen' endorsed James Talarico.
Reported by only some outlets
- CBS News reports the race as a 'toss-up' with early voting starting in late October 2026.
- Texas Film Commission records show 'The Chosen Texas LLC' received approximately $2.86 million in incentives.
- Inflation is cited as a top concern for 35.6% of Texans according to a poll mentioned by the Washington Examiner.
- Only 2% of Americans rank taxes and government spending as the nation's most important problem according to the Washington Examiner's cited data.
Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
The Washington Examiner criticizes the Republican strategy for failing to address voter concerns like inflation while highlighting Talarico's 'elitist' messaging. Fox News focuses on the controversy surrounding Hollywood subsidies and questions the authenticity of Talarico's Christian values by quoting critics who label his positions 'radical.'
Where coverage diverges
Single-perspective coverage; cross-spectrum comparison limited.
About these outlets
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