Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Poll: Cruz up 6 points over O'Rourke in Texas

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz holds a 6-point lead over Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke in the Texas Senate race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

Cruz had the support of 49 percent of respondents, compared to 43 percent for O'Rourke, with just 6 percent undecided, according to the poll. That's a slightly tighter race than in May, when Quinnipiac showed Cruz with an 11-point lead.


Both polls were of registered voters; Quinnipiac typically moves to a more restrictive likely-voter screen later in the summer.

Half of voters, 50 percent, approve of the job Cruz is doing, compared to 42 percent who disapprove. O'Rourke had 33 percent favorability compared to 23 percent unfavorable, but nearly half of voters didn't know enough to form an opinion about the Democratic congressman.

In the gubernatorial race, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott maintained a strong lead over Democrat Lupe Valdez, a former Dallas County sheriff. Abbott had 51 percent support, compared to 38 percent for Valdez. That was tighter than in May, when Quinnipiac showed Abbott leading by 19 percentage points.

President Donald Trump's approval rating was slightly underwater in the Lone Star State, with 46 percent of voters approving of the president's performance and 49 percent disapproving.

In the Senate race, voters listed immigration as the top issue, followed closely by the economy and health care.

Quinnipiac surveyed 1,118 Texas voters from July 26-31, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

