MAGA melts down over prediction market favorite to win key Senate race

PoliticsPublished: Aug. 20, 2026, 2:04 p.m.Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico speaks at a rally on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Brenda Bazán)AP Photo/Brenda BazánBy Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.comThe tide is turning in Texas, according to prediction market Polymarket, causing a MAGA movement meltdown.James Talarico, the Democratic state senator, is a favorite to win Texas’ U.S. Senate seat over Republican Ken Paxton, according to the prediction market.Polymarket’s users are estimating Talarico has a 52% chance of defeating the Texas attorney general endorsed by President Donald Trump.Since Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in the May 26 primary runoff, the attorney general had a sizeable lead against Talarico.But that all changed la