The Cook Political Report says Texas is within Joe Biden’s reach, moving the state from “lean Republican” to “toss up” days before the election.
In its Wednesday announcement, the nonpartisan newsletter noted that while Biden does not need to win Texas to clinch the presidency, “it is clear that it’s more competitive than ever.” The newsletter said the change “shouldn’t come as a surprise” and pointed out the close 2018 midterm race between Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and former Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
“Recent polling in the state — both public and private — shows a 2-4 point race. That’s pretty much in line with the hotly contested 2018 Senate race in the state where Sen. Ted Cruz narrowly defeated Rep. Beto O’Rourke 51 percent to 48 percent,” the Cook Political Report said.
With less than a week until the Tuesday election, a RealClearPolitics average of state polls in Texas has President Trump with a 2.6-point lead over Biden.
Texas’s move to the toss up column comes a day after the Cook Political Report’s House editor Dave Wasserman declared over Twitter that Biden is favored to win the 2020 presidential election.
“I’d like to ‘sound the alarm’ on Joe Biden: he’s likely to win next week’s presidential election,” Wasserman said.
I’d like to “sound the alarm” on Joe Biden: he’s likely to win next week’s presidential election.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) October 27, 2020
Also Tuesday, NBC News Political Unit’s also moved Texas from its “lean Republican” to “toss up.”
Texas hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter won it over Republican Gerald Ford in 1976.
The Cook Political Report newsletter also listed Georgia, a state that hasn’t been won by Democrats since the 1990s, as a toss-up this year. Biden was campaigning in the state on Tuesday.
