In a recent survey conducted by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, it has been revealed that Kamala Harris's entry into the presidential race has significantly cut Donald Trump's lead in Texas. The poll, which was conducted from August 5 to August 16, surveyed likely voters in the state and highlighted a tightening race between the two candidates.

According to the poll results, Harris trailed Trump by just 5 points, with the former Vice President garnering the support of 49.5% of likely voters, while Trump received 44.6%. This is a significant shift from the previous poll conducted by the universities in June, which showed Trump holding a 9 point lead over Joe Biden.

The impact of Biden's withdrawal from the race in July and the subsequent nomination of Harris as the Democratic candidate in Chicago has been evident not only in Texas but also on a national level. Recent national polling has shown a tightening race, with Harris leading Trump by a narrow margin of 1.5 points in the RealClearPolitics average.

The poll findings in Texas also align with the results of the 2020 election, where Trump emerged victorious over Biden by a margin of 5.6 points. This result marked the closest margin in Texas since 1996, when Bill Clinton lost the state to Bob Dole by a 4.9-point margin. It is worth noting that a Democrat hasn't won a presidential contest in Texas since 1976.

The survey further highlighted Harris's gains over Biden with certain demographics in Texas. Among women, Harris held a 6-point lead over Trump, garnering support from 50% of female likely voters. Similarly, among young voters from Generation Z, Harris enjoyed a significant lead with 55% support, compared to Trump's 38%. Additionally, Harris's support among independents has surged, with 39% backing her compared to Trump's 41%.

However, the poll results also showed that Trump maintained his lead among male, older, and white voters, while Harris led among Black voters. The two candidates were nearly tied among Latino voters, with 47% supporting Trump and 46% supporting Harris.

Moreover, the survey revealed the impact of the new match-up on support for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who was also on the Texas ballot. A significant portion of Kennedy's supporters shifted their allegiance, with 44% now supporting Harris and only 21% supporting Trump. Kennedy managed to retain just 33% of his initial support.

The survey, which included a sub-sample of 878 respondents who were resurveyed in August, had a margin of error of 2.65%. As the presidential race continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics in Texas, a traditionally Republican stronghold, may potentially shift with Harris's candidacy making further inroads.

In conclusion, the latest poll results indicate a noticeable narrowing of the gap between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in the Texas presidential race. As both candidates continue to vie for support, their strategies to win over key demographics will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the race in the Lone Star State.