A new poll shows incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz with a consistent lead over Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke in the closing weeks of their race to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.

Cruz has a 9-percentage-point lead on O'Rourke among likely voters, Quinnipiac University found in survey results released Thursday. Cruz has support from 54 percent of the study's respondents, compared with 45 percent who back O'Rourke, the same findings reported by the poll on Sept. 18.

With fewer than 30 days until Election Day, almost all of the likely voters surveyed by Quinnipiac had decided which Senate candidate they intend to cast a ballot for in November. Most independents broke for O'Rourke.

But Cruz still enjoys a stronger favorability rating, 52-44 percent favorable-unfavorable, to O'Rourke's 45-47 percent. A majority of respondents also approve of President Trump's job performance.

Quinnipiac University spoke to 730 likely voters in Texas between Oct. 3-9 using landlines and cellphones. Its results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

[Opinion: No more news profiles on Beto O'Rourke being 'cool,' please]