Democratic state Rep. Vikki Goodwin is mounting a surprisingly competitive challenge against incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in the 2026 Texas midterm election. Despite Patrick holding a massive $24 million war chest to Goodwin’s $643,000, October polling shows Goodwin narrowly leading, prompting Patrick to directly target her in attack ads. Meanwhile, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico holds a slight lead over Republican Ken Paxton in recent polls.
Goodwin-Patrick lieutenant governor race
- ▪Democrat Vikki Goodwin narrowly led incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in an October 2026 UT/Texas Politics Project poll.
- ▪Dan Patrick has served as Texas lieutenant governor for nearly 12 years and defeated his previous Democratic challenger by 10 points in 2022.
- ▪Vikki Goodwin flipped a western Travis County Texas House seat in 2018 centered on public education funding.
- ▪Dan Patrick target Vikki Goodwin by name in speeches and attack ads while urging rural Texas voters in Midland to turn out for the 2026 election.
Texas Senate race polling
- ▪An October 13, 2026 UT/Texas Politics Project poll showed James Talarico leading Ken Paxton 50% to 47% in the Texas U.S. Senate race.
- ▪Democrat James Talarico led Republican Ken Paxton 47% to 45% among likely voters in an October 14, 2026 Marist poll for the Texas U.S. Senate race.
- ▪In the Texas gubernatorial race, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott led Democrat Gina Hinojosa 49% to 45% among likely voters in an October 14, 2026 Marist poll.
Talarico CNN town hall
- ▪James Talarico defended his characterization of God as nonbinary as theologically uncontroversial during an October 14, 2026 televised CNN town hall.
- ▪James Talarico framed abortion as a public health issue aimed at reducing unplanned pregnancies during the October 14, 2026 CNN town hall.
- ▪Ken Paxton declined an invitation to appear at the October 14, 2026 CNN town hall alongside James Talarico.
Campaign spending disparities
- ▪Dan Patrick spent nearly $14.5 million running political ads on airwaves while Vikki Goodwin spent $25,983 as of October 2026.
- ▪Dan Patrick reported $24 million in campaign cash on hand compared to Vikki Goodwin's $643,000 one month prior to Election Day 2026.
False health claims about Talarico
- ▪Conservative influencers falsely claimed James Talarico received medical treatment at an Ohio mental health facility while he was absent from the campaign trail with the flu in October 2026.
- ▪Ken Paxton and Donald Trump promoted online rumors questioning James Talarico's health and fitness for office in October 2026.
Story comments
Loading comments…