In Texas’ Senate Race, Paxton and Talarico Converge on Key Battleground

© The New York Times

© The New York Times
At 27, Javon Daniels will vote for the first time on November 3 in the U.S. midterm elections. He will be the first member of his family to cast a ballot. He also believes he will be one of the few in his neighborhood to do so — Third Ward, a predominantly Black community southeast of Houston where nearly 43% of residents live below the poverty line.

© Elizabeth Conley (Houston Chronicle vía Getty Images)
When Republican Greg Abbott was re-elected governor of Texas in 2022, his margin over opponent Beto O’Rourke was nearly 11 percentage points. Less than a month before the midterm elections, however, polls no longer show him with a comfortable lead. Survey averages put Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa just over two points behind and rapidly closing the gap, raising alarm among Democrats over the need to boost campaign funding in the final stretch.

© Joel Angel Juárez (The Washington Post vía Getty Images)