Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is trailing Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) in a match-up for the 2018 Senate race, a new poll finds. In a race between the two, Castro leads slightly, with 35 percent, compared to Cruz’s 31 , according to the the Texas Lyceum poll. When Cruz is polled against Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), the two are tied at 30 percent.