Texas early voting starts as Paxton and Talarico race stays tight
Early voting starts Monday in Texas, where Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are in a close race for the US Senate. Both men opened statewide campaign tours this weekend. A new CBS News poll found the race essentially tied.
Early voting begins Monday in Texas, where Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are locked in a close race for the US Senate, CBS Texas and the Washington Examiner reported.
Paxton, the state attorney general, launched an 18-day bus tour across Texas at Rockwall Municipal Airport, CBS Texas reported. "My message to the far left extremists who are destroying our Texas is 'Come and Take It,'" Paxton said, according to CBS Texas. "That's the message of our entire tour."
At the event, Paxton laid out a plan that includes a $25,000 deduction for out-of-pocket medical costs and a $50,000 down payment deduction for home buyers, CBS Texas reported. His tour is set to end at the Alamo in San Antonio the day before Election Day.
Talarico, a state lawmaker, planned to launch his own statewide tour, called "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts," on Sunday in Plano, CBS Texas reported. The Examiner, citing Fox 4 News, reported that Talarico held a rally in Plano on Sunday evening while Paxton brought his tour to San Antonio.
At a CNN town hall in Fort Worth this week, Talarico pointed to his work on a cap on insulin co-pays, CBS Texas reported. "We took it from $684 to $25 per prescription," he said.
On Sunday, the US Chamber of Commerce endorsed Paxton, the Examiner reported. "The choice is clear in Texas," said Neil Bradley, the group's chief policy officer.
A CBS News/YouGov poll of 1,492 registered Texas voters, taken October 8 to 16, found the race "essentially tied." The Examiner reported that the RealClearPolitics polling average shows Talarico with a slight lead.
Paxton won President Donald Trump's backing over Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary, which upset some Republicans, the Examiner reported. One Paxton supporter said at the Rockwall event that there had been "a lot of focus on his personal life," but that it does not affect "his ability to do his job," CBS Texas reported.
Election Day is November 3.
What we know: Early voting opens Monday with the race close in polls.
What we don't: How many Texans will vote early.
Where outlets agree CBS Texas and the Washington Examiner both report that early voting begins Monday and that Paxton and Talarico are campaigning across the state in a close Senate race.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.