New results every FridayOctober 2 Capitol Pulse Results: Congress Says No to Meta Muse, Picks Talarico in Texas, and Finds No 2028 Democratic Frontrunner
This week’s Capitol Pulse results look ahead to the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination and Texas Senate race, while examining Congress’s views on sports gambling, prediction markets, and Meta’s new Muse platform. The results show no clear Democratic frontrunner, a Talarico advantage in the Texas Senate question, and broad skepticism toward both prediction markets and Meta Muse.
Congress Says No to Meta Muse
- No thanks
- Want to try it
- Already have it
View data table
| Group | No thanks | Want to try it | Already have it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 94.43% | 4.41% | 1.16% |
| Democrats | 95.83% | 4.17% | 0.00% |
| Republicans | 93.02% | 4.65% | 2.33% |
Source: Capitol Pulse data sheet, week of October 2, 2026.
Meta Muse receives an overwhelmingly negative response from Congress. 94.42% say “No Thanks” when asked whether they will try Meta Muse, while 4.41% say they want to try it and 1.16% say they already have it.
The response is consistent across both parties. 95.35% of Republicans say no thanks, compared with 95.83% of Democrats. Only 2.33% of Republicans and 4.17% of Democrats say they want to try the platform.
Meta Muse records the strongest single “no” response of the week, with fewer than 5% of Congress expressing interest in trying it.
Congress Picks Talarico in the Texas Senate Race
- Talarico
- Paxton
View data table
| Group | Talarico | Paxton |
|---|---|---|
| Congress | 60.63% | 39.37% |
| Democrats | 85.71% | 14.29% |
| Republicans | 35.56% | 64.44% |
Source: Capitol Pulse data sheet, week of October 2, 2026.
60.63% of Congress selects James Talarico to win the Texas Senate race, compared with 39.37% selecting Ken Paxton.
The partisan breakdown largely follows party lines. 85.71% of Democrats select Talarico, compared with 35.56% of Republicans. Among Republicans, 64.44% select Paxton, while 14.29% of Democrats select Paxton.
The overall result gives Talarico a lead of more than 21 percentage points, while both parties show a clear preference for their respective candidates.
Congress Finds No Clear 2028 Democratic Frontrunner
- Someone else
- Jon Ossoff
- Gavin Newsom
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
View data table
| Group | Someone else | Jon Ossoff | Gavin Newsom | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 42.35% | 31.20% | 17.39% | 9.07% |
| Democrats | 43.18% | 34.09% | 15.91% | 6.82% |
| Republicans | 41.51% | 28.30% | 18.87% | 11.32% |
Source: Capitol Pulse data sheet, week of October 2, 2026.
42.35% of Congress selects “someone else” as the likely 2028 Democratic presidential nominee, ahead of Jon Ossoff at 31.20%, Gavin Newsom at 17.39%, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 9.07%.
The party breakdown is more concentrated among Democrats. 43.18% of Democrats select someone else, while 34.09% select Ossoff, 15.91% Newsom, and 6.82% Ocasio-Cortez. Republicans are somewhat more likely to select someone else, at 41.51%, followed by Ossoff at 28.30%, Newsom at 18.87%, and Ocasio-Cortez at 11.32%.
No named candidate receives a majority in either party, with “someone else” taking the largest share overall and among both Republicans and Democrats.
Congress Is Split on Sports Gambling
- Wish it were illegal
- Meh
- Can’t stand it
- All for it
View data table
| Group | Wish it were illegal | Meh | Can’t stand it | All for it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 30.27% | 30.19% | 22.89% | 16.65% |
| Democrats | 31.03% | 27.59% | 31.03% | 10.34% |
| Republicans | 29.51% | 32.79% | 14.75% | 22.95% |
Source: Capitol Pulse data sheet, week of October 2, 2026.
Congress has no dominant position on sports gambling. 29.36% say they wish sports gambling were illegal, 29.28% take a “meh” position, 22.21% say they can’t stand it, and 16.15% are all for it.
The partisan difference is substantial. Among Republicans, 22.95% are all for sports gambling, while 29.51% wish it were illegal and 14.75% say they can’t stand it. Democrats are less supportive: 10.34% are all for it, while 31.03% wish it were illegal and another 31.03% say they can’t stand it.
The largest individual response among Republicans is “meh,” while Democrats are evenly split between “meh” and “wish it was illegal.”
Congress Is Mostly Unenthusiastic About Prediction Markets
- Meh
- Wish they were illegal
- Can’t stand them
- All for them
View data table
| Group | Meh | Wish they were illegal | Can’t stand them | All for them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 35.12% | 33.33% | 23.21% | 8.33% |
| Democrats | 23.81% | 38.10% | 28.57% | 9.52% |
| Republicans | 46.43% | 28.57% | 17.86% | 7.14% |
Source: Capitol Pulse data sheet, week of October 2, 2026.
Congress is similarly divided over prediction markets, although outright support is limited. 35.12% take a “meh” position, 33.33% either wish prediction markets were illegal or can’t stand them, and just 8.33% are all for them.
The partisan results show Republicans somewhat more accepting of prediction markets. 18.33% of Republicans are all for them, compared with 9.52% of Democrats. Republicans are also more likely to describe their view as “meh,” at 46.43%, compared with 23.81% of Democrats.
Among Democrats, 38.10% wish prediction markets were illegal and 28.57% can’t stand them, putting opposition ahead of outright support.