A new JMC Analytics and Polling survey released Tuesday, finds Republican Sen. Ted Cruz leads his Democrat challenger Beto O’Rourke by seven percentage points — 47% to 40%,  in the U.S. Senate race in Texas. Independent candidate Jonathan Jenkins polled at  7% and another 7% were undecided.

JMC Analytics and Polling described Sen. Cruz’s lead as “modest.” They note that Mr. O’Rourke is not well-known statewide and that Mr. Cruz’s approval rating is “underwater” in his home state — 42 percent  approved of the job Mr. Cruz is doing, while 44 percent disapproved:

The fact that his negative approval rating exceeds his positive approval rating means he will have a somewhat challenging re-election as he campaign progresses and Congressman O’Rourke becomes better known across the state.

The Hill reported that the poll results “show a wider gap for Cruz than a survey released in April by Quinnipiac University with Cruz just three points ahead.”

Th e Democrat voter base has coalesced against Sen. Cruz. He trails in Austin and West Texas, O’Rourke leads 71% to 19% in El Paso County, Cruz leads in West Texas 52% t0 36% and the race is tied in Dallas/Fort Worth.

The poll was conducted May 19-21 and has margin of error of  4.1 percent.