The 2026 Texas primary elections produced one of the most significant political upsets in Texas Senate history: incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn, a 24-year veteran of the Senate and former Republican whip, lost his primary runoff to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after President Trump endorsed Paxton a week before the May 26 vote. The elections also set up competitive congressional races and statewide contests that will define Texas politics through November 2026 and beyond.
2026 Texas Primary Calendar
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| March Primary Election | March 3, 2026 |
| Primary Runoff Election | May 26, 2026 |
| Runoff certification deadline | June 10, 2026 |
| General Election | November 3, 2026 |
U.S. Senate Race – Paxton Defeats Cornyn in Republican Runoff
The blockbuster race of the 2026 Texas primaries was the Republican U.S. Senate primary. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn, first elected in 2002 and a former Republican whip and chair of the Senate GOP fundraising arm, entered the race as the heavy favorite. However, Cornyn secured only 42% in the three-way March primary — short of the majority required to avoid a runoff. Attorney General Ken Paxton, a longtime Trump ally despite his own legal controversies, finished second with 41%.
The runoff became a proxy battle for Trump’s influence in the Texas GOP. Cornyn, while generally supporting Trump in his second term, had been at odds with Trump over various issues in prior years. Paxton was a staunch Trump ally from the beginning. One week before the May 26 runoff, Trump endorsed Paxton — and Paxton won. Cornyn conceded on election night. “Paxton thanked his supporters and Trump, calling his endorsement ‘the most powerful force in politics,'” according to coverage from multiple outlets. Cornyn’s defeat marked the end of a four-decade career in Texas politics.
On the Democratic side, state Representative James Talarico won the Democratic Senate primary without a runoff. Talarico will face Paxton in the November 3 general election in a race that will test whether Democrats can compete in a statewide Texas race for the first time in decades.
Texas Congressional Primary Results 2026
All 38 Texas congressional seats were on the ballot in 2026. Significant changes included retirements, primary challenges, and a redistricting-driven congressional map redrawn by Republican lawmakers in the summer of 2025. Several seats went to runoffs, including:
Congressional District 33 – Allred Returns
Former Congressman Colin Allred won the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’s 33rd Congressional District, defeating incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson in a contentious race. Allred, who previously represented Texas’s 32nd District before losing a 2024 U.S. Senate bid, finished first in the March primary with nearly 44% before defeating Johnson in the runoff. The 33rd District in Dallas County is strongly Democratic, making Allred the heavy general election favorite.
Congressional District 35 – Competitive Race
The 35th Congressional District — a potentially competitive Austin-to-San Antonio corridor seat — drew significant national attention and spending from both parties. Both Republican and Democratic primaries went to runoffs, with outside spending reflecting the national parties’ interest in the seat heading into November.
Congressional District 18 and 30 – Houston Area Races
In Houston, Democratic Rep. Al Green lost a member-versus-member primary to Rep. Christian Menefee after redistricting placed both incumbents in the same district. Republican Everett Jackson won the primary runoff for House District 30 in Southern Dallas County, though the district is heavily Democratic for the general election.
Statewide Office Primaries 2026
Texas Attorney General
With Ken Paxton vacating the Attorney General position to run for Senate, a contested Republican primary determined his successor. Democrats selected Nathan Johnson as their candidate for Attorney General in the primary runoff, setting up a competitive race for the seat Paxton is leaving after winning the Senate runoff.
Texas Railroad Commissioner
Bo French won the Republican nomination for Texas Railroad Commissioner, defeating incumbent Jim Wright in the primary runoff. The Railroad Commission race became a proxy battle between factions aligned with President Trump and Governor Greg Abbott — reflecting ongoing tensions within the Texas Republican Party. The Railroad Commission regulates the oil and natural gas industry in Texas despite no longer overseeing actual railroads.
What These Results Mean for Texas in November 2026
The November 3, 2026 general election will determine officeholders for all 38 congressional seats, statewide positions, the Texas Legislature, and many local offices. The Paxton vs. Talarico Senate race gives Democrats their strongest statewide candidate since Beto O’Rourke — though Texas remains a challenging environment for Democratic statewide candidates. The competitive congressional map creates more competitive districts than Texas has seen in years, giving the national parties reasons to invest significantly in Texas House and Senate races.
For more Texas politics coverage, read our overview of Texas senators and our guide to Texas public court records for background on candidates. Official election results are at sos.state.tx.us.
Frequently Asked Questions – Texas Primary Elections 2026
Who won the Texas Senate Republican primary in 2026?
Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the May 26, 2026 Republican primary runoff. Paxton received a late boost from a Trump endorsement the week before the runoff. Cornyn conceded on election night.
Who won the Texas Senate Democratic primary in 2026?
State Representative James Talarico won the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in March 2026. He will face Republican nominee Ken Paxton in the November 3, 2026 general election.
When was the Texas primary election in 2026?
The Texas primary election was held on March 3, 2026. Because several races had no candidate reaching 50% of the vote, a primary runoff election was held on May 26, 2026, to determine the nominees.
What is a Texas primary runoff election?
A Texas primary runoff is held when no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the initial primary. The top two vote-getters from each party then face each other in the runoff, which in 2026 was held on May 26. Voters who participated in one party’s primary can only vote in that same party’s runoff.
When is the Texas general election in 2026?
The Texas general election is November 3, 2026. All congressional seats, statewide offices, the Texas Legislature, and other federal and local offices are on the ballot.
