Texas statewide races tighten as new poll shows slim GOP margins

• A new Texas Southern University poll shows Republican Greg Abbott leading Democrat Gina Hinojosa by three points in the governor's race.
• Republicans hold leads in most other statewide races, though often by narrow margins.

With millions of Texans already voting, a new poll shows Republicans still ahead in most statewide races, though not by much.

At the top of the ticket, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott leads Democrat Gina Hinojosa by 3 percentage points, 50% to 47%, in a new Texas Southern University poll released Oct. 29.

The poll is among recent polls showing a tight race, as Abbott won his last reelection —against Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke — by 11 points in 2022. Texas hasn't elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards in 1990.

Here's a closer look at the governor's race and other statewide races.

Greg Abbott leads Gina Hinojosa in the Texas governor's race

The poll surveyed 2,000 likely voters Oct. 21-25 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.19 percentage points.

The poll found that 48% of likely voters view Abbott favorably and 51% unfavorably, while 45% view Hinojosa favorably and 49% unfavorably, with 6% not knowing enough about her to have an opinion.

Few voters plan to split their tickets. Among likely voters backing Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton, 99% intend to vote for Abbott and 1% for Dixon. Among Abbott voters, 95% intend to vote for Paxton, 2% for Democrat James Talarico and 2% for Brown.

On the Democratic side, 95% of Talarico voters intend to vote for Hinojosa and 3% for Abbott and 1% for Dixon, while 99% of Hinojosa voters intend to vote for Talarico and 1% for Brown.

Republicans lead in most down-ballot Texas races

The Texas Southern University also looked at how other candidates in other statewide offices are faring:

• Lieutenant Governor: Dan Patrick* (R) 49%, Vikki Goodwin (D) 45%
• Attorney General: Mayes Middleton (R) 49%, Nathan Johnson (D) 45%
• Comptroller: Don Huffines (R) 50%, Sarah Eckhardt (D) 44%
• Land Commissioner: Dawn Buckingham* (R) 50%, Benjamin Flores (D) 44%
• Agriculture Commissioner: Nate Sheets (R) 48%, Clayton Tucker (D) 44%
• Railroad Commissioner: Bo French (R) 47%, Jon Rosenthal (D) 46%

* Incumbent.

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas, based in Austin. Got a news tip for him? Email him at [email protected].