At a Texas Football Game, Voters Talk Issues
NPR reported on October 23, 2026 that it talked with voters at a Texas high school football game about the issues that matter to Texans in this election cycle. Reporter Bianca Seward spoke with fans at the tailgate, in the line at the concession booth and in the stands, according to NPR. The story aired on NPR's All Things Considered program.
The race for Texas's U.S. Senate seat is close in recent polling. A Fox News survey found Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton tied at 49% each. An Emerson College survey found Talarico at 49% and Paxton at 48%.
Economic concerns are at the top of many voters' minds. In an Emerson College poll, the economy was the issue named most often, at 39%, up three points from September. Immigration ranked second, at 16%.
Reuters reported that voters have consistently ranked the cost of living as the top issue in the 2026 election cycle. In its reporting on the Texas Senate race, Reuters said Republicans named their biggest challenge as turning out their own voters, many of whom are frustrated by the cost of living. Turning out voters means getting them to cast ballots.
On other issues, a UT/Texas Politics Poll from October found that Texas voters trusted Greg Abbott more than his opponent on 9 of 13 issues assessed. The poll found voters trusted Abbott more on immigration and border security by 9 points, on public safety by 7 points and on property taxes by 6 points.
Redistricting is another thread in the state's politics. Texas Republicans sought to make several districts more favorable to their candidates ahead of the 2026 elections, according to Reuters.
