New polls have shown that Senators Ted Cruz and Deb Fischer are maintaining narrow leads in the Senate races in Texas and Nebraska, respectively. In Texas, Senator Cruz is leading Democrat Colin Allred by a margin of 50 to 46%, according to a survey of 1,180 likely voters conducted by The New York Times and Siena College. Allred, a current House representative and former NFL player, recently expressed support for Vice President Harris at a rally in Houston.
On the other hand, in Nebraska, Senator Fischer is ahead of her independent opponent Dan Osborn by a margin of 48 to 46%, with 5% of the 1,194 likely voters polled indicating that they are undecided or refusing to answer. The polls in both states were conducted between October 23 to 26 and have a margin of error of around three percentage points.
Senator Cruz, who last faced a challenge for his Senate seat in 2018 and emerged victorious against Democrat Beto O’Rourke, is now in a tight race with Colin Allred. Allred is polling ahead of Vice President Harris among likely voters in Texas, with 46% of support compared to Harris’ 42%. Additionally, Allred is leading Harris among Black voters with 76% compared to 71% and among Hispanic voters with 56% compared to 50%.
In the Nebraska race, independent candidate Dan Osborn, a union leader and mechanic, is leading Senator Fischer among independent voters by 31%. This has prompted last-minute efforts from Fischer’s campaign to bolster support, with the Mitch McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund launching a $3 million ad buy in the state. Fischer is also receiving support from Senator Chuck Grassley from neighboring Iowa, who is urging voters to support her in a new radio ad.
The unexpected popularity of Osborn in Nebraska has posed a challenge for Fischer’s campaign, as independent candidates often struggle to gain traction, especially against incumbents. With no Democratic candidate in the Senate race, Osborn has a larger pool of potential voters to draw support from. The dynamics of these races indicate the high stakes involved and the efforts being made by both parties to secure victory.
As the election day approaches, the outcomes of these Senate races in Texas and Nebraska remain uncertain, with the candidates and their supporters intensifying their efforts to win over voters. The close margins in the polls reflect the divided political landscape in these states and the significance of each vote in determining the future representation in the Senate. The results of these races will not only impact the composition of the Senate but also the direction of key policy decisions that will affect the lives of millions of Americans.