Poll shows Texas Dem Castro leading Cruz
*Why you should read this: Because the race for the Texas senate seat is going to be hard-fought. Because the poll is out and the frontrunner hasn’t announced his candidacy yet. VL
By Rebecca Svaransky, The Hill (1.5 minute read) 
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) edges out Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in a potential 2018 Senate matchup, a new poll shows.
According to the statewide poll numbers released Wednesday by Texas Lyceum, Castro gets 35 percent support of Texas adults in the potential matchup, while Cruz gets 31 percent.
Read more stories about Julián Castro in NewsTaco. >>
And in a matchup between Cruz and Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), the two are tied at 30 percent.
A Democrat hasn’t won a Senate race in Texas in 29 years. Cruz, who came in second in last year’s GOP presidential primary, has long been considered a big favorite.
