Time For Concern? Latest Poll In Texas Has Abbott Up Big But Cruz Under 50 Percent

By Andrea Ruth | 2:00 PM on August 01, 2018

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Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, poses for a portrait following an interview with the Associated Press in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. Cruz outlined an approach to foreign policy inspired by Ronald Reagan, saying he would restore the American leadership missing from the world under President Barack Obama. But pressed on how he would address specific hotspots of today, Cruz places limits on American action, including refusing to back ground troops to combat the Islamic State. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

It still seems like a longshot that Sen. Ted Cruz could lose his re-election bid to Democratic rival Rep. Beto O’Rourke, but we’re less than 100 days out from the mid-term election in November and while Cruz has stayed ahead, he’s dipped below the 50 percent mark in a new poll from Quinnipiac University.

According to the latest, Cruz has a lead with 49 percent to O’Rourke’s 43 percent.

“U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has a slight, by no means overwhelming, lead. Congressman Beto O’Rourke has done a good job making the race competitive. With three months until Election Day, he is clearly in contention. A Democratic victory in the Lone Star state would be a serious blow to GOP hopes of keeping their U.S. Senate majority,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll. “O’Rourke makes a good impression on voters, but only about half the Texas electorate has formed an opinion of him. Sen. Cruz has a good favorability overall and is the much better known of the two men.”

The last Q poll of the Texas Senate race on May 30 had Cruz ahead with 50 percent to O’Rourke’s 39 percent.

A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide race in Texas since 1994, however, O’Rourke has consistently outraised Cruz during the midterm season. Whether that money turns into real votes on Election Day remains to be seen.

The same poll has Texas Gov. Greg Abbott still with a 51 – 38 lead over Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez.