Texas currently sends two Republican senators to the United States Senate: Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Both men have served multiple terms and hold significant influence in Congress. However, 2026 brings one of the most competitive Senate races in Texas history as Cornyn’s seat faces a contested Republican primary and a Democratic party energized by recent statewide momentum.
Who Are the Current Texas Senators?
- Ted Cruz (R) — Junior Senator, serving since January 2013. Cruz won re-election in 2024, defeating Democrat Colin Allred by a margin of 53% to 45%. His current term runs through January 2031.
- John Cornyn (R) — Senior Senator, serving since January 2002. Cornyn previously served as Texas Attorney General and as a Texas Supreme Court Justice. He is currently seeking a fifth term in 2026.
No Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994. The state’s Senate delegation has been entirely Republican since Senator Bob Krueger left office in 1993. Consequently, Texas has been a reliable anchor of Republican Senate caucus strength for more than three decades.
Ted Cruz: Texas Junior Senator
Ted Cruz serves as the junior senator from Texas and is a prominent figure in national conservative politics. He won his first Senate seat in 2012, narrowly retained it in 2018 against Democrat Beto O’Rourke in a nationally watched race, and won re-election in 2024 with a comfortable margin. Cruz chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the current Congress. He has been active in introducing legislation during the 119th Congress (2025–2026), including bills related to trademark law, Army mineral partnerships, and highway funding equity.
John Cornyn: Texas Senior Senator
John Cornyn is one of the longest-serving senators in Texas history. He was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990, served as Texas Attorney General from 1999 to 2002, and has been a US Senator since 2002. Cornyn previously served as Senate Majority Whip during President Trump’s first term. During the 119th Congress, Cornyn has introduced multiple significant bills including the Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act and the LNG Export Security Act.
The 2026 Texas Senate Race
Cornyn’s 2026 re-election campaign has become one of the most watched Senate contests in the country. The Republican primary was unusually competitive, with three candidates vying for the nomination: incumbent John Cornyn, former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Congressman Wesley Hunt.
Cornyn and Paxton advanced to a Republican primary runoff on May 26, 2026, with Cornyn receiving approximately 43% and Paxton 41% of the primary vote. President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Paxton on May 19, 2026 — just days before the runoff. On the Democratic side, state Representative James Talarico defeated Representative Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
How to Contact Texas Senators
Texas residents can contact their senators through official Senate channels. Ted Cruz’s office is reachable at cruz.senate.gov and through his Washington, DC office at (202) 224-5922. John Cornyn’s office is reachable at cornyn.senate.gov and through his DC office at (202) 224-2934. Both senators also maintain district offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and other major Texas cities for constituent services.
For more information on Texas government, see our guide to Texas DPS, our overview of Texas primary elections 2026 results, and Texas public court records.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Senators
Who are the two US Senators from Texas?
Texas is represented in the US Senate by Ted Cruz (R), the junior senator serving since 2013, and John Cornyn (R), the senior senator serving since 2002. Both are Republicans.
When is John Cornyn’s term up?
John Cornyn’s current term expires in January 2027. He is running for re-election in the November 2026 general election after advancing from the Republican primary runoff in May 2026.
When was Ted Cruz last re-elected?
Ted Cruz was re-elected to the US Senate in November 2024, defeating Democrat Colin Allred by approximately 8 percentage points. His current term runs through January 2031.
Has Texas ever had a Democratic senator?
Yes. Texas had Democratic senators for most of the 20th century. The last Democrat to represent Texas in the Senate was Bob Krueger, who left office in 1993. Since then, both Senate seats have been held by Republicans.
Who is running against Cornyn in 2026?
Democrat James Talarico faces the Republican nominee in the November 3, 2026 general election. Talarico won the Democratic primary in March 2026, defeating Jasmine Crockett.
