The hosts of ABC’s The View spent another segment cheerleading for a Democrat candidate — this time rooting for far-left James Talarico, who’s running for U.S. Senate in Texas against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The segment represents the latest in a long pattern of the daytime talk show openly promoting Democratic candidates and causes, a trend that has drawn criticism from media watchdogs who argue the program blurs the line between entertainment and political advocacy. Texas has long been considered a Republican stronghold in presidential and statewide races, though Democrats have repeatedly predicted the state would flip in recent election cycles, only to fall short each time.
Co-host Sunny Hostin couldn’t contain her optimism, declaring on air: “I think we will see Texas go blue.”
“I THINK WE WILL SEE TEXAS GO BLUE. HE’S GOING TO WIN THIS RACE.”
Hostin rattled off September polling data showing Talarico ahead in several metrics before concluding confidently that Talarico “is going to win this race.”
Her pronouncement echoed similar predictions made by Democratic strategists and media personalities in previous election cycles, particularly during the 2018 Senate race when Beto O’Rourke challenged Ted Cruz and came closer than expected but ultimately lost. The recurring theme of Texas potentially turning blue has become something of a rallying cry for Democrats, though the state hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994.
But even Whoopi Goldberg pumped the brakes, warning her co-hosts not to get cocky about a sure win.
“We’ve seen this before,” Goldberg said of the polls. “And suddenly some weird number comes out and we say, ‘What happened?'”
Her caution reflects a broader anxiety among Democrats who have been burned by overconfident poll predictions in recent years, particularly in races where late-breaking momentum or turnout patterns didn’t match pre-election surveys.
Co-host Ana Navarro agreed, still haunted by 2016. “You’re not kidding. 2016 left me scarred,” she said, referencing President Donald Trump’s shock victory over Hillary Clinton.
“People should have hope, but hope alone won’t win an election. People gotta turn hope into votes,” Navarro added. “Relying on polls and kind of sitting back and getting complacent is something that nobody can afford to do if they want to see change.”
Navarro’s warning about complacency touches on a persistent concern within Democratic circles that favorable polling can actually dampen turnout by creating a false sense of security among supporters. The 2016 election serves as a cautionary tale, with many analysts attributing Clinton’s loss in part to supporters who assumed her victory was inevitable and didn’t show up to vote in key states.
The rosy September polls Hostin cited have already tightened. A late-September survey found Democrat Talarico and GOP nominee Paxton tied at 48 percent each.
The shift in polling demonstrates the volatility of the race and underscores the warnings from Goldberg and Navarro about overreliance on early survey data. Polling in Texas has historically proven challenging, with pollsters often struggling to accurately model the state’s diverse electorate and predict which demographic groups will turn out in higher numbers.
Former Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich is warning voters not to trust the polls at all.
“Don’t believe the polls. There will be no blue wave,” Blagojevich wrote on X. “Once again, fake polling, designed, not to inform but to persuade & suppress turnout, are misleading voters. I know what I’m talking about. As a twice elected Dem governor and 3 time elected Dem Congressman, I never lost an election.”
Blagojevich’s intervention adds an unusual dimension to the race, given his complicated political legacy and the fact that he’s now criticizing polling that favors his own party. His claim that polls are designed to suppress turnout represents a growing skepticism across the political spectrum about the accuracy and motivations behind public polling.
With just weeks left in the campaign, Talarico abruptly cancelled several events Thursday and disappeared from the campaign trail with no new appearances scheduled.
His campaign claims he has “the flu” and is taking time off to recover.
The timing of the absence has raised eyebrows among political observers, coming at a critical juncture when candidates typically intensify their campaign schedules rather than pull back. Campaign momentum in the final weeks before an election is widely considered crucial, making any extended absence potentially damaging to a candidate’s prospects.
Republican Ken Paxton seized the moment, mocking the Democrat’s sudden absence by creating a “missing” poster joking about Talarico’s disappearance from the race.
The aggressive response from Paxton’s campaign illustrates how Republicans are seeking to capitalize on any perceived weakness or misstep from their Democratic opponent, particularly in a race that has drawn national attention and could have implications for the broader political landscape in Texas.
Most of The View cast is on the fat shot and they have the nerve to tell Trump to "eat a salad." pic.twitter.com/rRbLDI7RjW
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) October 8, 2026
Don’t believe the polls. There will be no blue wave. Once again, fake polling, designed, not to inform but to persuade & suppress turnout, are misleading voters. I know what I’m talking about. As a twice elected Dem governor and 3 time elected Dem Congressman, I never lost an…
— Rod Blagojevich (@realBlagojevich) October 6, 2026
