John Cornyn

The Democratic candidate in Texas’s U.S. Senate race is leading both of his potential Republican competitors, a recent University of Texas poll shows.

State Representative James Talarico is ahead of incumbent Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton by several percentage points, according to the survey, which was conducted earlier this month. The Republicans will compete in a May primary runoff to determine who advances to the November election.

Talarico has had momentum since his March primary election victory over U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett. His campaign has announced tens of millions of dollars in fundraising receipts since January, and he has been able to court voters disillusioned by the GOP primary battle and other national Republicans.

“We already know who we’re running against,” Talarico said earlier this month. “We’re running against the billionaire megadonors who have taken over our politics, who have taken over our state and our country, and their corrupt political system. You know, we are building a movement here in the state of Texas.”

Another poll released by Texas Public Opinion Research on Wednesday shows that roughly four in 10 votes like Talarico. Thirty-four percent view him negatively, while a little over a quarter aren’t sure about the candidate, according to the firm, which was founded by a Democratic strategist.

Cornyn and Paxton are both underwater in the favorability ratings by double digits. The candidates have occasionally attacked Talarico, although they mostly target each other.

“We are not going to go quietly, and we are not going to let you buy the seat,” Paxton told his supporters after the initial Republican primary election last month.

Cornyn has often emphasized corruption allegations against the attorney general in his criticisms. Paxton has been impeached for bribery accusations and charged with fraud crimes over the past decade, although he has denied any wrongdoing.

“He personally is working to undermine Texas’ reputation as a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Cornyn said earlier this month. “He must be stopped.”

It’s unclear how much of an effect the Republican fighting will have on Talarico’s chances. No Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994.

Talarico's odds could improve if the image of national Republicans continues to worsen. President Donald Trump’s approval rating, which sagged over his first year, has sunk during the Iran war. The conflict has driven up the cost of living for Americans already dissatisfied with the economy, and other races around the country have shown affordability to be a major concern for voters.