DALLAS (AURN News) — The Texas Senate race continues to make national headlines and draw national attention. The matchup between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton remains close, but a new poll shows Talarico gaining ground. Texas Public Opinion Research found that Talarico now leads Paxton 45% to 40%. The polling firm said that marks a 2-point increase from May. The polling firm also found that Talarico remains the top choice among moderates, leading by 34 percentage points, and leads independents by 20 percentage points.