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Thursday, March 26, 2026

Category: Politics
7 hours ago
Politics

A Democrat Will Now Represent Trump in the Florida Legislature.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrats flipped Florida’s 87th House District seat in a special election, a district won by President Donald J. Trump in 2024, which includes his Palm Beach residence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples, who was endorsed by Donald Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The election took place in Florida’s 87th House District, including areas such as Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: with year-round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere–including Donald Trump’s backyard.” — Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried

🎯IMPACT: The victory adds to a series of Democratic special-election wins, and is another signal to the Trump White House that voters want greater focus on domestic matters.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump was dealt a political blow late Tuesday night when Democrats managed to flip Florida‘s 87th State House District in a special election, which includes his Palm Beach residence of Mar-a-Lago. The district was carried by Trump during the 2024 presidential election by over 10 points and has historically leaned Republican.

Democrat candidate Emily Gregory defeated the Republican nominee Jon Maples, who was endorsed by Trump, with over 51 percent of the vote. In 2024, State Representative Mike Caruso (R-FL) won the seat by 19 points.

Gregory was able to overcome the district’s Republican partisan advantage by focusing her campaign predominantly on local issues impacting Florida, particularly housing affordability and skyrocketing property insurance premiums. The insurance issue has long plagued Republicans in Florida politics, with outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) failing to address it amid increasing legislative pushback.

Notably, while Maples touted his endorsement from Trump, Gregory largely avoided discussing the President while on the campaign trail. “I mean, I don’t think all of that much about it, right? He’s one of 115,000 registered voters in District 87,” she said, referring to President Trump.

Florida Republicans tried to downplay the results, but Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried celebrated the win, stating, “This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: with year-round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere–including Donald Trump’s backyard.”

The Democrats’ win is just the latest in voter signals to the Trump White House that the administration isn’t doing enough to assuage concerns about domestic conditions, especially regarding the economy. The National Pulse reported earlier this week that new polling data found 66 percent of independents—one of the, if not the most, critical voting blocs in U.S. elections—say the Trump administration is “focused too little” on domestic matters.

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14 hours ago
Politics
TECH

Trump Just Named These Big Tech Execs to the Science and Technology Advisory Council:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced the first appointments to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, PCAST co-chairs David Sacks and Michael Kratsios, and appointees including Marc Andreessen, Sergey Brin, Safra Catz, Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, Jensen Huang, and Mark Zuckerberg, among others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced today, as part of an Executive Order establishing the Council.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Under President Trump, PCAST will focus on ensuring all Americans thrive in the Golden Age of Innovation.” – White House statement

🎯IMPACT: The Council will provide recommendations to strengthen American leadership in science and technology.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has named the first members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), which was created by executive order. The panel is authorized to have up to 24 members, and further appointments are expected shortly.

PCAST will be co-chaired by David Sacks, who has already been tapped as Trump’s artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto czar, and Michael Kratsios, the President’s assistant for science and technology. PCAST’s currently confirmed appointees, including the likes of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang, are as follows:

Marc Andreessen

Co-founder of Netscape Communications, which created the first widely used web browser, and co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

Sergey Brin

Russian-American computer scientist and co-founder of Google (now Alphabet).

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms (originally Facebook), which is now heavily investing in AI and the metaverse.

Larry Ellison

Founder of Oracle Corporation, a global leader in database software, enterprise cloud, and business applications.

Safra Catz

CEO of Oracle Corporation; previously longtime CFO, she has steered the company’s shift to cloud infrastructure and AI-driven services.

Michael Dell

Founder and CEO of Dell Technologies; pioneered the direct-sales PC model and built one of the largest enterprise IT and computing hardware empires.

Jensen Huang

Co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA; turned the company into the dominant provider of GPUs that power modern AI training and inference.

Lisa Su

CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD); has driven the company’s resurgence in high-performance CPUs, GPUs, and AI accelerators.

Fred Ehrsam

Co-founder of Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, and co-founder of Paradigm, a leading crypto-focused venture capital firm.

John Martinis

Physicist and quantum computing pioneer who led Google’s Quantum AI team.

Bob Mumgaard

Co-founder and CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a MIT spinout developing compact, high-temperature superconducting fusion reactors for commercial power.

Jacob DeWitte

Co-founder and CEO of Oklo, a company building small, modular, advanced fission reactors to deliver clean, always-on energy.

David Friedberg

Founder of The Climate Corporation (sold to Monsanto), now runs The Production Board, an investment platform focused on biology, agriculture, energy, and climate technologies.

“Under President Trump, PCAST will focus on topics related to the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies present to the American workforce, and ensuring all Americans thrive in the Golden Age of Innovation,” the White House said in a statement.

The council continues a long tradition that dates back to the Science Advisory Board established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Since that time, every American president has maintained a similar group to draw on the knowledge of scientists, engineers, and business leaders to shape national policy.

Image by Anurag R Dubey.

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March 24, 2026
Data
Politics

Ken Paxton is Beating John Cornyn in ANOTHER Poll. Here’s What the Data is Telling Us…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) leading Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Lone Star State’s Republican Senate runoff, with many former supporters of Representative Wesley Hunt (R-TX) now backing Paxton.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ken Paxton, John Cornyn, Wesley Hunt, and Texas Republican voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll results were reported on Tuesday; the runoff election is scheduled for May 26 in Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: The runoff electorate is “largely settled, highly certain to vote, and not especially movable,” according to the Quantus Insights report.

🎯IMPACT: Paxton’s lead, voter certainty, and favorability ratings suggest he enters the runoff with a significant advantage.

IN FULL

New data released on Tuesday shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) leading Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) 48.8 percent to 41.3 percent, with 9.9 percent undecided, ahead of the May 26 primary runoff race. The poll, conducted by Quantus Insights, also revealed that nearly 58 percent of Representative Wesley Hunt’s (R-TX) supporters have shifted to Paxton, indicating there is a consolidation of anti-Cornyn voters.

Additionally, the survey of Texas voters suggests the electorate has largely become entrenched, with 88.1 percent of respondents certain to vote and 78.7 percent describing their choice as definite. Among Paxton’s supporters, 88 percent said their vote is definite, compared to 86 percent of Cornyn’s supporters. Notably, 92 percent of Paxton voters are certain to vote, compared to 86 percent of Cornyn voters.

Quantus Insights describes the runoff electorate as “largely settled, highly certain to vote, and not especially movable.” Paxton was noted to have “the clearer edge in ballot support, favorability, and perceived effectiveness.” Meanwhile, the potential of a presidential endorsement was also analyzed, with 25.3 percent of respondents saying President Donald J. Trump’s endorsement would make them more likely to support Paxton, while 63 percent said it would make no difference. For Cornyn, 18.3 percent said Trump’s endorsement would increase their support, while 70 percent said it would not affect their decision.

Last week, The National Pulse reported that a separate voter poll found Paxton leading Cornyn by a wider margin, 53 percent to 37 percent, among likely Republican runoff voters. This survey also found Paxton with a higher favorability rating (64 percent favorable, 31 percent unfavorable) compared to Cornyn (45 percent favorable, 47 percent unfavorable).

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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March 24, 2026
Data
Politics

More Voters Blame GOP for DHS Shutdown, Airport Travel Chaos.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: More American voters blame the Republican Party than the Democratic Party for the partial government shutdown caused by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse that has led to hours-long lines for airport security screenings.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Congressional Democrats, Congressional Republicans, DHS employees, and TSA workers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The shutdown began on February 14, 2026, impacting airports nationwide, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Democrats are being blamed by the American people for the catastrophe going on right now in our airports, and at other points of transportation and beyond,” insisted President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Over 400 TSA agents have quit, and wait times at some airports have stretched to nearly three hours, with ICE agents now deployed to assist TSA. The Democrats are refusing to allow funding unless curbs are placed on immigration enforcement.

IN FULL

Over one-third of American voters blame the Republican Party for the partial government shutdown caused by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse that has hours-long lines for airport security screenings, as nearly half of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have now called off work without pay. According to a new JL Partners survey, 34 percent of voters blame the Republicans for the long lines and delays, compared to 25 percent who blame the Democrats. Another 20 percent said both parties were responsible, and 10 percent were unsure.

The funding lapse began on February 14, 2026, after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-backed appropriations bill, demanding radical restrictions on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions.

As a result of the funding impasse, roughly 50,000 TSA workers have been working without pay, leading to over 400 resignations. Airports across the U.S., such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, have experienced significant delays, with travelers advised to arrive hours early for their flights.

In response to the TSA work call-offs, President Donald J. Trump ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to be deployed to major American airports to assist with security screenings. The President has placed responsibility for the air travel chaos squarely on the Democrats, stating, “The Democrats are being blamed by the American people for the catastrophe going on right now in our airports, and at other points of transportation and beyond.”

The National Pulse reported on Monday that President Trump is urging Republican lawmakers to insist that any DHS funding deal include passage of the SAVE America Act, an election integrity bill with broad public support that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a voter ID to cast a ballot in federal elections.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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March 24, 2026
News
Politics

Markwayne Mullin’s Senate ‘Successor’ is RINO Who Donated to Anti-Trump Adam Kinzinger.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) is set to appoint Alan Armstrong, a donor to anti-Trump former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, to outgoing U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin’s seat.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gov. Stitt, Alan Armstrong, Sen. Mullin (R-OK), and Adam Kinzinger.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement expected soon, now that Mullin has been confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary, in Oklahoma.

🎯IMPACT: The appointment has sparked backlash among MAGA supporters.

IN FULL

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) plans to appoint Tulsa oil executive Alan Armstrong to the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by Senator Markwayne Mullin, who has been confirmed as President Donald J. Trump’s next Homeland Security Secretary. The anticipated announcement is raising concerns among America First and MAGA supporters, due to Armstrong’s past financial support of anti-Trump Republican-in-name-only (RINO) former Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).

Armstrong donated $5,800 to Kinzinger shortly after the January 6, 2021, Capitol protests, as Kinzinger was positioning him as a leading anti-Trump Republican. Federal Election Commission (FEC) records reveal that on March 22, 2021, Armstrong made two $2,900 donations: one to Kinzinger’s congressional campaign and another to his political action committee (PAC).

In the weeks leading up to those checks, Kinzinger had launched a full-scale war on Donald Trump and his supporters. On January 7, 2021, Kinzinger became the first Republican in Congress to publicly demand that then-Vice President Mike Pence invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, calling the president “unfit” and “unwell.” Six days later, on January 13, he was one of only ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on the charge of “incitement of insurrection.”

Throughout January, February, and March, Kinzinger made the rounds on CNN and other networks, repeatedly branding Jan 6 an “insurrection,” attacking Republicans who defended Trump, and positioning himself as a leader of the anti-Trump “resistance” inside the GOP.

Stitt and Armstrong are set to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the appointment. Armstrong will reportedly serve as a caretaker and not seek a full term.

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March 23, 2026
Election Integrity
Politics

Trump Demands Senate Include the SAVE America Act in DHS Funding Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is urging Republican lawmakers to insist that any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding deal include passage of the SAVE America Act, an election integrity bill with broad public support that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a voter ID to cast a ballot in federal elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and the United States Senate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday, Washington, D.C., with Trump speaking in Memphis, Tennessee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The most important thing we can have is called the SAVE America Act.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The DHS shutdown continues to disrupt operations, with TSA staffing issues worsening and no resolution in sight.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump raised the stakes on Monday for ongoing negotiations in Congress to end the Senate Democrats’ 38-day Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. The President urged Republican lawmakers to insist that any DHS funding deal include passage of the SAVE America Act, an election integrity bill with broad public support that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a voter ID to cast a ballot in federal elections.

“We want voter ID, we want proof of citizenship as part of our funding. We want to merge them so that we can get the great, big, beautiful bill in action,” Trump said during a roundtable event in Memphis, Tennessee, early Monday afternoon. “I’m suggesting strongly to the Republican Party, don’t make any deal on anything. The most important thing we can have is what’s called the SAVE America Act. Don’t make any deal on anything unless you include voter ID, and you have to be a citizen to vote,” he added.

The President reiterated his position during a second event later in the afternoon, stating, “I’m requesting that the Republican senators do that immediately. You don’t have to take a fast vote, don’t worry about Easter, or going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus.”

Despite broad, bipartisan voter support—and its adoption by the House of Representatives—the SAVE America Act has struggled to gain traction in the Senate despite intense pressure for Trump and his MAGA political base. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has already thrown cold water on the prospect of attaching the election integrity bill to a DHS funding deal, contending, “Despite widespread GOP support for the SAVE America Act, the idea that the Senate would have to guarantee the bill’s passage to reopen the government isn’t realistic.”

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) claimed President Trump’s new bargaining position has derailed the funding negotiations in the upper chamber. “We hope that Donald Trump will stop derailing these talks and let negotiations continue,” Schumer said.

Over the weekend, Democrat lawmakers believed they were poised to peel off several Republicans to back a vote to provide partial funding for non-immigration-enforcement components of DHS.

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March 23, 2026
Politics

Trump Set to Miss CPAC, Breaking Decade-Long Streak.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald Trump is not currently scheduled to attend this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas, marking the first time in a decade he may miss the event.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, CPAC organizers, and a roster of administration officials, including Border Czar Tom Homan and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

📍WHEN & WHERE: CPAC will be held from Thursday to Saturday in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas.

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s potential absence would mark a significant shift for CPAC, eroding its reputation as a major platform for his political messaging and influence within the Republican Party.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump is planning to skip this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas, according to the White House. Still, administration officials note that his plans could change at the last minute.

The absence would mark the first time in a decade that President Trump has missed the annual, corporate-financed political conference. In 2016, he skipped CPAC to focus on his campaign during the Republican primary. Since then, he has been a regular presence at CPAC, using it to rally supporters, refine his political messaging, and solidify his influence within the Republican Party.

This year’s CPAC, held in Grapevine, Texas, comes as the Trump White House navigates fractures in the President’s political base amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and ongoing American economic struggles with prices and lackluster jobs numbers. The Iran strikes have revived old divisions in the Republican Party, with more hawkish elements—including Trump himself—facing mounting resistance from the MAGA base, which tends to embrace a more America First, noninterventionist foreign policy stance.

The National Pulse reported last week that Trump-friendly pollster JL Partners had found that the President’s approval rating has dropped to just 42 percent, the lowest of his presidency. According to the survey, the Iran war and inflation fears are key reasons for the decline. Twenty-eight percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Middle East, up from 20 percent earlier this month. Among Trump voters, support for the war has decreased from 75 percent to 61 percent, while opposition has risen to 22 percent.

Still, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims of internal division among Trump supporters, stating, “As I’ve said repeatedly, Americans trust President Trump as their Commander-in-Chief and support his efforts to eliminate terrorist threats and keep us safe.”

CPAC will still feature numerous administration officials and allies, including White House Border Czar Tom Homan, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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March 23, 2026
Politics
World

Meloni Loses Referendum on Italian Judicial Reform.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Italian voters rejected a judicial reform backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with the “No” camp securing 54 percent of the vote.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Giorgia Meloni, her right-wing governing coalition, Italian opposition parties, and Italian voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The referendum results were released on Monday in Italy.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Italian voters have decided and we respect their decision,” said Giorgia Meloni.

🎯IMPACT: The defeat raises questions about the stability of Meloni’s coalition and the future of her leadership.

IN FULL

Italian voters handed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government a clear defeat by rejecting her proposed judicial reforms in a referendum. Figures released by the Italian Interior Ministry showed the “No” side taking 54 percent of the vote against 46 percent for the government-backed “Yes” campaign.

Participation reached an unexpectedly high of nearly 59 percent after an intense campaign. Opposition parties and civil society organizations claimed the reform threatened judicial independence, while Meloni’s coalition described it as essential to addressing chronic issues in Italy’s court system.

The proposal would have separated the professional paths of judges and prosecutors and restructured the High Judicial Council that oversees magistrates. Critics maintained that the changes risked concentrating too much authority in the executive branch and weakening the system of checks and balances.

In a video posted on Instagram, Meloni stated, “Italian voters have decided and we respect their decision.” She reaffirmed her commitment to serving out her full mandate through 2027. Even so, the outcome has laid bare divisions inside her coalition and raised questions about its viability.

Left-wing commentators feared Meloni, who campaigned on a strong pro-borders, anti-mass migration platform, would be the most right-wing leader in Europe since Benito Mussolini when she entered office in late 2022, but her record has been patchy. While illegal immigration to Italy has reduced significantly in recent months, it surged dramatically in her first year in office. Legal immigration has also increased. Much of her early focus was on supporting Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine—an issue of relatively marginal concern to her core voters.

In 2023, former President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz bragged that the European Union (EU) had “disciplined” Meloni into abandoning much of her election platform.

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March 20, 2026
Data
Politics
War

Trump Rating Hits All-Time Low With FRIENDLY Pollster as War Opposition Amongst 2024 Trump Voters Doubles.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 42 percent, the lowest of his presidency, according to a new poll.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and 1,037 registered voters surveyed by JL Partners.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted online from March 18 to March 20, 2026, amid the ongoing Iran war.

🎯IMPACT: Rising inflation, gas prices, and opposition to the Iran war are driving disapproval, with 54 percent of voters saying the economy is worsening.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump‘s approval rating has dropped to 42 percent, according to a new poll from Trump-friendly JL Partners. This marks the lowest approval rating of his presidency, down from 44 percent earlier this month and 48 percent in January. The poll surveyed 1,037 registered voters online from March 18 to March 20, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

According to the survey, the Iran war and inflation fears are key reasons for the decline. Twenty-eight percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Middle East, up from 20 percent earlier this month. Meanwhile, 44 percent blamed him for rising inflation, an increase from 38 percent at the start of March. Gas prices have risen to $3.90 per gallon nationally, compared to $2.90 before U.S. strikes began on February 28.

Support for the Iran war has also waned. Initially, 40 percent of voters supported military action, but that figure has now dropped to 33 percent, with 49 percent opposing the conflict. Among Trump voters, support for the war has decreased from 75 percent to 61 percent, while opposition has risen to 22 percent. Thirteen U.S. troops have been killed and over 200 injured since the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran started.

Economic sentiment has also worsened, with 54 percent of voters saying the economy is deteriorating, up from 44 percent last month. Only 16 percent believe the economy is improving, a significant drop from 30 percent in February. The poll also revealed that only 19 percent of voters would tolerate a $1 increase in gas prices to secure a military victory, while just seven percent would accept up to 10,000 American fatalities in the conflict.

Vice President J.D. Vance, however, has not seen his approval rating affected by the Iran war. His approval remains steady at 47 percent, five points higher than Trump’s. Notably, independents, who are crucial for Republican success in the 2026 midterm elections, oppose the war by a two-to-one margin, with 50 percent against and 24 percent in favor. Democrats are overwhelmingly opposed, with 76 percent disapproving of the decision to strike Iran.

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March 20, 2026
Jack Montgomery
News
Politics

Paxton TROUNCES Cornyn in New Texas Runoff Poll.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll indicates Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has a strong lead in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff against Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and is better placed to defeat Democrat nominee James Talarico.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ken Paxton, John Cornyn, and James Talarico.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 20, 2026, in Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Likely Republican primary voters strongly prefer Paxton over Cornyn.” – Impact Research poll memo

🎯IMPACT: If he prevails over Cornyn in the primary, Paxton’s strong base appeal could drive Republican turnout in a closely contested general election.

IN FULL

A new poll of likely voters in Texas for the 2026 election cycle indicates that state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) is positioned strongly in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff against incumbent Republican-in-name-only (RINO) Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). The poll also suggests that Paxton is better placed to defeat controversial Democrat nominee James Talarico in the general election.

The survey gives Talarico a 43 percent to 41 percent lead over Cornyn, and a narrower 44 percent to 43 percent lead over Paxton. Notably, Paxton holds a significant advantage among likely Republican primary voters, leading Cornyn by 53 percent to 37 percent in direct preferences. His strong appeal within the GOP base is further demonstrated by his net favorability rating of +33 among Republican primary voters, compared to Cornyn’s net negative 45 percent favorable / 47 percent unfavorable rating. Paxton’s favorability is also superior to Cornyn’s among independents, at net -32 compared to Cornyn’s -42.

This clear preference among core Republican voters positions Paxton to more effectively rally the party’s energized conservative wing, which could prove crucial for high turnout and momentum heading into the general election against Talarico.

Paxton has a strong track record as an America First conservative and supporter of President Donald J. Trump. Meanwhile, Cornyn has a long history of backstabbing the President, from opposing his border wall proposals in 2015 to opposing his primary campaign in 2024.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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