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How Paxton vs. Talarico compares to Cruz vs. O'Rourke

We examine how this year's U.S. Senate race in Texas matches up with the 2018 race.

News

With polls showing a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tight U.S. Senate race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/04/poll-talarico-has-slim-lead-over-paxton-in-texas-senate-race" data-vars-content-id="5c128b8c-c462-43b9-b339-965a852cc6aa" data-vars-headline="How Paxton vs. Talarico compares to Cruz vs. O&#x27;Rourke" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/04/poll-talarico-has-slim-lead-over-paxton-in-texas-senate-race" target="_self">tight U.S. Senate race</a> between <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democrat James Talarico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" data-vars-content-id="5c128b8c-c462-43b9-b339-965a852cc6aa" data-vars-headline="How Paxton vs. Talarico compares to Cruz vs. O&#x27;Rourke" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" target="_self">Democrat James Talarico</a> and Republican <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ken Paxton" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/27/thune-paxton-texas-senate-trump" data-vars-content-id="5c128b8c-c462-43b9-b339-965a852cc6aa" data-vars-headline="How Paxton vs. Talarico compares to Cruz vs. O&#x27;Rourke" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/27/thune-paxton-texas-senate-trump" target="_self">Ken Paxton</a>, we decided to see how this year matched up against 2018, the last time a Texas statewide election came down to the wire.Why it matters: Democrat Beto O&#x27;Rourke lost that year to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz by 2.6 percentage points, or about 215,000 votes, in a race that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="broke fundraising records" data-vars-click-url="https://www.texastribune.org/2018/12/07/beto-orourke-80-million-raised/" data-vars-content-id="5c128b8c-c462-43b9-b339-965a852cc6aa" data-vars-headline="How Paxton vs. Talarico compares to Cruz vs. O&#x27;Rourke" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2018/12/07/beto-orourke-80-million-raised/" target="_blank">broke fundraising records</a> and raised (and dashed) Democratic hopes of turning Texas blue.

Home concierge startup launches in Austin

The $199 monthly membership includes 90 minutes of handyman work.

Two ex-Uber execs are bringing their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" data-vars-content-id="a40ca4fe-f739-456e-99f0-e1e1748d410c" data-vars-headline="Home concierge startup launches in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" target="_self">home</a> maintenance startup Casa to Austin, promising to put household upkeep on autopilot.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Casa" data-vars-click-url="https://getcasa.com/" data-vars-content-id="a40ca4fe-f739-456e-99f0-e1e1748d410c" data-vars-headline="Home concierge startup launches in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://getcasa.com/" target="_blank">Casa</a> is betting homeowners will pay to outsource the chores that come with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="owning a home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/19/homeownership-housing-affordability-senate" data-vars-content-id="a40ca4fe-f739-456e-99f0-e1e1748d410c" data-vars-headline="Home concierge startup launches in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/19/homeownership-housing-affordability-senate" target="_self">owning a home</a>, from cleaning out a dryer vent to finding a reliable handyman when something breaks.

UT's University Democrats bring Hasan Piker to Austin

The University Democrats club at the University of Texas is hosting the divisive streamer for an event in Austin.

A popular but divisive left-wing streamer will make an appearance Wednesday at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="University of Texas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/09/17/university-texas-mexican-american-african-diaspora" data-vars-content-id="3bf6d113-5731-45df-a786-0e7186dc80d5" data-vars-headline="UT&#x27;s University Democrats bring Hasan Piker to Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/09/17/university-texas-mexican-american-african-diaspora" target="_self">University of Texas</a>, drawing controversy even before he steps on campus.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hasan Piker" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/18/hasan-piker-aoc-2028-axios-show" data-vars-content-id="3bf6d113-5731-45df-a786-0e7186dc80d5" data-vars-headline="UT&#x27;s University Democrats bring Hasan Piker to Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/18/hasan-piker-aoc-2028-axios-show" target="_self">Hasan Piker</a> is scheduled to speak in Austin at the William C. Powers Student Activities Center at an event <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hosted by the University Democrats club" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DczcOBexCpM/?stkn=a3FzcDcxNGNmdHl2" data-vars-content-id="3bf6d113-5731-45df-a786-0e7186dc80d5" data-vars-headline="UT&#x27;s University Democrats bring Hasan Piker to Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DczcOBexCpM/?stkn=a3FzcDcxNGNmdHl2" target="_blank">hosted by the University Democrats club</a>.

What to know before going to ACL Music Festival

ACL Fest is due to kickoff this weekend with heavy rains in the forecast.

Austin City Limits Music Festival is due to kick off Friday, but a forecast of heavy rains could make it a slick mess.Why it matters: The festival takes over Zilker Park for two weekends each fall and brings thousands of music fans to Austin.

ACL Fest leaves Zilker Park a muddy mess

Boots and galoshes were commonplace at this year's festival.

The rains that soaked Austin late last week left Zilker Park a slippery, muddy mess as tens of thousands of people squelched their way through the grounds.Why it matters: The slippery scene once again raised questions about the tradeoffs involved with hosting the festival at Austin&#x27;s marquee municipal park.

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Austin

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

Things to Do

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Social Club" data-vars-click-url="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" data-vars-content-id="54367bc7-f187-46b0-b26c-ce6d12ca2cf6" data-vars-headline="Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" target="_blank">Axios Social Club</a> is bringing readers together for dinner in East Austin on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin

Breweries, parties and more in Austin and beyond.

Food and Drink

It&#x27;s Oktoberfest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/07/when-austin-s-leaves-will-peak-this-fall" data-vars-content-id="2fc7906b-1086-43d4-802b-63033f735246" data-vars-headline="Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/07/when-austin-s-leaves-will-peak-this-fall" target="_self">season</a>, and you don&#x27;t have to go far to mark the occasion in Central Texas.Why it matters: Despite its name, the German <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="beer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/08/28/texas-breweries-craft-beer-slowdown" data-vars-content-id="2fc7906b-1086-43d4-802b-63033f735246" data-vars-headline="Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/08/28/texas-breweries-craft-beer-slowdown" target="_self">beer</a> celebration begins in September. It&#x27;s a fun way to ring in the fall season and honor the region&#x27;s plentiful German heritage.

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Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman

Joshua Weissman is opening a fried-chicken restaurant on East Cesar Chavez.

As part of our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="running feature" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/27/desert-island-dish-susana-querejazu" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/27/desert-island-dish-susana-querejazu" target="_self">running feature</a> about Austin chefs&#x27; favorite meals, we recently caught up with Joshua Weissman, whose restaurant <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ben &amp; Lynn&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.benandlynns.com/" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.benandlynns.com/" target="_blank">Ben &amp; Lynn&#x27;s</a> opens this weekend in a 1920s bungalow on East Cesar Chavez Street.The backstory: Weissman, 30, has worked in the kitchens of Odd Duck and Uchiko, but lately has been building an online audience for his cooking videos, with more than 22 million followers across <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="YouTube" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaWeissman" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaWeissman" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Instagram" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/joshuaweissman/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/joshuaweissman/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="TikTok" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tiktok.com/@flakeysalt?lang=en" data-vars-content-id="dcb8adc2-9288-459b-889d-2a660b4820d1" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Joshua Weissman" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@flakeysalt?lang=en" target="_blank">TikTok</a>.

Austin's bats get their close-up

As they wait for bats to emerge, Austin visitors will be able to learn all about the nocturnal creatures.

Starting Wednesday, the old Statesman bat viewing area beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge will present an interactive way to engage with one of the city&#x27;s most popular natural attractions.Why it matters: More than 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerging nightly is a go-to spectacle, yet there has been little on-site educational context for visitors — until now.

Things to do in Austin this weekend

Live music, Austin's Pride parade and more.

Here&#x27;s what&#x27;s on deck this weekend.<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">Friday</h2>

Things to Do 🗓

ACL Fest leaves Zilker Park a muddy mess

What to know before going to ACL Music Festival

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Austin

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin

Take the Axios Austin news quiz!