Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate James Talarico speaks to reporters during a recent campaign event. Credit: Michael Karlis

With just 11 days until the midterms, Democrat James Talarico leads Republican Ken Paxton 51% to 47% in Texas’ U.S. Senate race, according to a nonpartisan poll released Friday.

The same poll, conducted by Texas Public Opinion Research (TPOR), found that Gov. Greg Abbott, the state’s Republican incumbent, has a 51%-to-48% lead over Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa.​

The poll, TPOR’s third and final before the Nov. 3 election, surveyed 969 likely Texas voters between Oct. 15 and 18. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points, suggesting both races remain competitive.

The poll comes as all four candidates are busy zigzagging across the state on their final get-out-the-vote tours. Paxton, Abbott, Talarico and Hinojosa have either rallied recently in San Antonio or plan visits here before Election Day.

A win by Talarico or Hinojosa would give Democrats their first statewide victory in Texas in more than three decades.

If Abbott wins, he will be the first Texas governor elected to a fourth term.

Early voting continues through Oct. 30. Polls will reopen on Election Day, Nov. 3.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...