A new Texas election poll highlights early favorites in the U.S. Senate race, but deeper findings show softening support for Donald Trump and shifting voter sentiment heading into 2026.

New poll results released Thursday indicate the race to fill the U.S. representative seat for Texas' 18th congressional district may be heading for a runoff.

In the Texas Trends Survey, Colin Allred has a slim 46%-42% advantage over James Talarico on the Democratic side, while on the Republican side, John Cornyn and Ken Paxton are in a tight race with Wesley Hunt coming in third.

The trajectory of the U.S. Senate GOP primary could shape the 2026 general-election map in a state that typically favors Republicans.

As Texas voter registration issues raise concern, Travis County election staff test machines, train workers and tighten safeguards before early voting begins Monday.

Travis County election officials gave a behind-the-scenes tour on Thursday, showing off the election process, work currently underway and preparations. In a warehouse, workers are filling blue boxes, known as election supply carriers, with supplies and equipment, such as ballot marking devices, color-coded forms and signs for curbside voting.

An extraordinary attempt by the state of Texas to have President Donald Trump's election loss upended by the U.S. Supreme Court is almost certain to fail, according to election law experts who called the lawsuit "absurd" and "laughable.

Texas men's basketball ranks in the middle of the SEC pack in this year's preseason poll; no Texas players were picked as all-conference first-, second- or third-team selections.