2026 Texas Senate Primaries Head to Runoffs Amid Voting Controversies
The first midterm primaries of 2026 featured significant drama in Texas, where both major party U.S. Senate races failed to produce an immediate winner. In the Republican primary, incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton both fell short of the 50% threshold, forcing a runoff election. The race was closely contested across urban and suburban lines, with Paxton performing strongly in Trump-heavy counties while Cornyn led in larger metro areas. Meanwhile, the Democratic primary saw State Representative James Talarico secure a decisive victory, bolstered by strong support in Austin and Hispanic-majority regions along the border. Conversely, Rep. Jasmine Crockett's campaign relied heavily on urban centers like Houston and Dallas. The night also included voting issues in Harris County that caused confusion regarding ballot eligibility. These results highlight increased competition and spending driven by new congressional maps.
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2026 Texas Senate Primaries Head to Runoffs Amid Voting Controversies
The first midterm primaries of 2026 featured significant drama in Texas, where both major party U.S. Senate races failed to produce an immediate winner. In the Republican primary, incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton both fell short of the 50% threshold, forcing a runoff election. The race was closely contested across urban and suburban lines, with Paxton performing strongly in Trump-heavy counties while Cornyn led in larger metro areas. Meanwhile, the Democratic primary saw State Representative James Talarico secure a decisive victory, bolstered by strong support in Austin and Hispanic-majority regions along the border. Conversely, Rep. Jasmine Crockett's campaign relied heavily on urban centers like Houston and Dallas. The night also included voting issues in Harris County that caused confusion regarding ballot eligibility. These results highlight increased competition and spending driven by new congressional maps.
AP News