Two of the Texas Democratic Party’s highest-profile candidates were absent as progressive independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont rallied supporters in Houston on Tuesday.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa did not join Sanders on the Houston leg of his “Fighting the Oligarchy” tour, as polls show democratic socialism remains unpopular with a majority of Texas voters. Winning top office in this state requires the support of independents and Republican voters, and both candidates are trying to appeal to voters beyond the Democratic base.
Political scientists say Sanders’ campaign gives Republicans an opportunity to portray Texas Democrats as aligned with the party’s left wing.
“Any effort by Bernie Sanders is likely to be more of a negative than a positive for Texas Democrats,” said Rice University political scientist Mark Jones. newsweek. “They really don’t need to worry about enthusiasm. Donald Trump did it all on his own in motivating Democrats to vote.”
newsweek The Sanders, Talarico and Hinojosa campaigns have been contacted for comment.
What Texas polls show
A June 2026 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll found that 29% of Texans have a positive view of democratic socialism and 46% have an unfavorable view, putting the ideology behind by 17 points statewide.
Because of this, Jones believes appearing alongside Sanders could create more problems than benefits for candidates trying to build a broader coalition.
“I believe James Talarico is right. It’s a smart move,” Jones said of the Senate candidate’s decision not to attend Tuesday’s rally. “Any Democratic candidate who emerges is likely to be under-advised.”
University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus offered a similar assessment.
“Senator Sanders’ visit complicates the Democratic Party’s focused message on affordability,” Rottinghaus said. newsweek. “His more progressive views are consistent with that, but also open the door to other types of progressive issues that Democrats may not want to use as closing arguments with voters.”
Rottinghaus said Republicans spent much of the election cycle attacking what they called Sanders’ socialism.
“Texas Republicans have long fought against Bernie Sanders-style socialism, and his visit is likely to draw opposition from Republicans as well as support from Democrats,” he said.
Republicans are already looking to capitalize on Sanders’ visit to Texas. On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign released a statement titled “Sanders’ Texas trip shines spotlight on Hinojosa’s high tax record,” seeking to tie the Democratic gubernatorial candidate to Sanders and policies that Republicans often label socialist.
Vice President JVance flew to Tyler on Tuesday, days after Trump made his third trip to Texas in a month. He told the crowd that electing Talarico was the only way to “mess up” the state’s future, saying Democrats were taking positions that conflicted with the moderate image he now projects to voters across the state.
“James Talarico is going to need a week or two to get his head checked because he’s losing his mind,” Vance said.
What Texas’ early voting turnout shows
So far, both parties are seeing promising signs of early voting turnout in Texas. The state’s urban centers are Democratic strongholds, with midterm election turnout hitting record highs, but so are Republican-majority suburbs.
The Harris County Elections Department reported on Sunday that more than 70,000 voters had been processed as of 3:30 p.m. Monday, surpassing the previous record of 63,188 voters set in 2018, with 3 1/2 hours left to vote.
Dallas County also broke records for early voting on the first day of any election. Judge Clay Jenkins reports on the X that there were 76,069 voters in the county on Monday, surpassing the previous record of 60,573 voters set in 2020.
Turnout on the first day of early voting in El Paso County was the second-highest in midterm election history.
Voting records were also set in Republican stronghold Denton County, a sign that both parties were flocking to the polls on Monday to make their voices heard.
Texas Democrats rally for voter turnout
Former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke acknowledged that Democrats have long been frustrated with the state, but he thinks this cycle feels different.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. Like you, my heart has been broken by Texas more than once,” O’Rourke told supporters at a Sanders rally. “But in my opinion, it just makes our hearts grow stronger and beat harder, and in this moment, all of our hearts come together at the right time, when we need it.”
Sanders has focused less on electoral politics and more on his usual talking points of economic inequality, health care and the influence of wealthy donors on American politics.
“In the richest country in the history of the world, we should be able to provide every man, woman and child with a decent standard of living,” he said.
The self-described democratic socialist received about 33% of the vote in Texas’ 2016 Democratic presidential primary, ultimately losing to Hillary Clinton. Four years later, Sanders won about 30% of the vote, trailing eventual Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who received about 35% of the vote.
What the latest Texas polls show
Abbott, who is seeking to become Texas’ longest-serving governor, leads by about 3 to 4 points in recent polls. For example, the RealClearPolitics average of Tuesday polls showed Abbott leading 48.7 percent and Hinojosa leading 45.3 percent.
The latest CBS News/YouGov poll of 1,460 likely voters, conducted between Oct. 8 and 16, showed Abbott’s approval rating at 52 percent and Hinojosa’s 48 percent. A poll of 2,000 likely voters conducted between Oct. 10 and 14 by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs found Abbott ahead by 3 points, or 49 percent, to Hinojosa’s 46 percent.
Talarico leads Paxton by 2 to 3 percentage points in recent polls. Tuesday’s RealClearPolitics average of polls showed Talarico leading by 2.2 points, or 48.5 percent, while Paxton led at 46.3 percent.
The latest CBS News/YouGov survey of 1,458 likely voters, conducted Oct. 8-16, showed Talarico’s support rising 51% to 49%.
Paxton leads only one of the last six public surveys. An InsiderAdvantage poll of 1,200 likely voters conducted Oct. 13-14 showed Paxton with a slim lead of 49 percent to Talarico’s 48 percent. Most leads are within error.
Early voting begins in Texas on Monday and ends on October 30.
newsweek’s Reporters and editors used our artificial intelligence assistant Martyn to produce this story. Learn more about Martin here. Please contact Newsweek editors about this story: Edward T. Cummins