- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Texas Primaries Kick Off 2026 Midterm Cycle
Hotly contested Senate races and statewide offices on the ballot in the Lone Star State
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Two high-profile U.S. Senate primaries in Texas will help officially launch the 2026 midterm election cycle on Tuesday, March 2nd. Voters in the Lone Star State will also choose nominees for a full slate of state offices, from governor to state legislature. The Republican primary for Senate features a tough challenge to incumbent John Cornyn, while the Democratic race is competitive between U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico.
Why it matters
The Texas primaries will be an early indicator of the political landscape heading into the 2026 midterms, where Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats see an opportunity to put the traditionally Republican state in play, but face an uphill climb to retake the chamber.
The details
In the Republican Senate primary, much of the campaign has focused on Cornyn's conservative credentials in the Trump era, so counties where the former president has strong support could play a decisive role. On the Democratic side, areas with large Hispanic and African American populations, like the border region and East Texas, will be closely watched.
- Polls close statewide at 7 p.m. local time on March 2nd, 2026.
- The AP will not make any race calls in statewide contests until the last polls close at 9 p.m. ET.
- There will be 84 days until the primary runoff election, if needed, and 245 days until the 2026 midterm elections.
The players
John Cornyn
The incumbent Republican U.S. Senator from Texas, who is seeking renomination after cruising to victory in his previous four campaigns.
Ken Paxton
The Texas Attorney General, who is challenging Cornyn for the Republican Senate nomination.
Jasmine Crockett
A U.S. Representative competing for the Democratic Senate nomination.
James Talarico
A state Representative also running for the Democratic Senate nomination.
Greg Abbott
The incumbent Republican Governor of Texas, who is seeking a fourth term and faces 10 challengers in the primary.
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The Texas primaries will be an early test of the political landscape heading into the 2026 midterms, with high-stakes Senate races and statewide offices on the ballot. The results could provide clues about the strength of Trump-aligned candidates, the role of demographic shifts, and the broader battle for control of Congress.
