Texas: The Democratic bet in the midterms to gauge Republican loss of support

The Texas midterm races are unusually close, giving Democrats hope of winning a Senate seat in a state they have not carried for decades. The outcome could signal whether Republicans are losing support over the economy and other national issues, and could affect the balance of power in Congress.

Democrat James Talarico is polling near Republican Ken Paxton, whose campaign has faced controversy and disappointment among some Republicans, despite Donald Trump’s support. Inflation reached 3.7% in September, while tariffs, the war with Iran and migrant family separations have also become campaign issues. In the governor’s race, Republican Greg Abbott leads Democrat Gina Hinojosa by roughly the margin of error, and the article says the contests may remain uncertain until votes are counted.