How will voter concerns about inflation and housing costs weigh against candidate controversies at the ballot box?

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Pocketbook issues are likely to carry more weight than scandal on Election Day, unless controversies reinforce doubts about a candidate’s honesty and competence among undecided and independent voters. Texas polling shows inflation, prices and the broader economy are the dominant concerns. In the UT/Texas Politics Project survey, roughly three in 10 voters named inflation or the economy as the state’s top problem, and majorities said they were very concerned about food prices, health care, gasoline and housing. Housing costs are especially salient: statewide costs have risen sharply over the past decade, and affordability has become a central theme in ads and campaign events from both candidates. That gives voters a practical lens for judging the race. If they believe a candidate can better address taxes, housing supply, gas prices or family costs, that can outweigh long-running controversies they may already have priced in. Analysts have noted that Ken Paxton’s legal and ethical issues are not new; many voters know them already, which can limit the impact of fresh attacks. But controversy still matters at the margins. Recent polls suggest Paxton runs weaker with independents, and voters rate James Talarico more favorably on honesty, competence and leadership. In a close race, that credibility gap can matter if voters connect ethics questions to everyday governance: whether a candidate can be trusted to focus on costs, housing and economic management. So the likely test at th…

Republicans Rally Behind Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Race as Polls Show Dead Heat

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Republicans Rally Behind Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Race as Polls Show Dead Heat

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