Dr. Ivan Melendez aligned with Democrats for years before moving to the right in recent elections. Ahead of the midterms, he’s weighing his options.
James Talarico
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2026 Texas Elections
Most polls have Talarico ahead of Paxton in the U.S. Senate race
We’re tracking all major polls in the U.S. Senate race to give Texans a fuller picture of where this race is headed. Paxton has been consistently trailing in the polls, but the margins are tight.
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2026 Texas Elections
As Dems target the Texas House, GOP Speaker Dustin Burrows is campaigning like his gavel’s at stake
Flipping 14 seats would give Democrats control of the lower chamber, but even putting a major dent in the GOP’s margin could complicate Burrows’ ability to govern, or even remain speaker.
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2026 Texas Elections
Six charts that explain how Texas’ suburbs became a midterm battleground
The state’s fast-growing suburban counties have gotten bigger, more diverse and bluer over time.
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2026 Texas Elections
With dueling Trump-Talarico rallies, Lubbock became the center of the political universe
Lubbock, the second most populous city in West Texas, has been a reliable Republican stronghold. Democrats, like Talarico, hope to close yawning gaps in rural areas that have kept them out of power.
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2026 Texas Elections
Greg Abbott, Gina Hinojosa each post biggest fundraising hauls yet in final leg of Texas governor’s race
The third-term GOP governor’s burst of fundraising and spending was especially notable, signaling how seriously he is taking the once-overlooked race.
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2026 Texas Elections
Dems hope to clinch the state by flipping Collin County, Paxton’s homebase and a longtime GOP bastion
Democrats’ chances hinge on finally winning a county that for years has been trending purple.
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2026 Texas Elections
As South Texas Republicans brace for losses, Ryan Guillen’s career offers a possible roadmap back
The former Democrat’s reputation as an unflappable moderate stands in sharp contrast to the MAGA firebrands at the top of this year’s GOP ticket.
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2026 Texas Elections
Fed up with data centers and Big Tech, rural Republican crossover could decide Democrats’ fate in Texas
Rural Republicans have long undercut Democrats’ gains in cities and suburbs. Will enough defect to make a difference this fall?
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2026 Texas Elections
How Texas Democrats and Republicans have shifted their campaign ad pitches throughout the midterms
Democrats have moved from healthcare to taxes and corruption, while Republicans have ramped up ad spending on property taxes, crime and transgender issues, an analysis of AdImpact data shows.