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Texas GOP Senate Race Heads to Runoff, Democrats Too Close to Call
Longtime Sen. John Cornyn and MAGA favorite Ken Paxton advance to May runoff, while Dem candidates Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico in tight race.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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The Republican primary for the Texas Senate seat currently held by longtime Sen. John Cornyn is headed to a runoff in May between Cornyn and MAGA-aligned candidate Ken Paxton. On the Democratic side, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico are locked in a close race, with some outstanding ballots still to be counted in Crockett's home base of Dallas County.
Why it matters
The Texas Senate race is seen as a key battleground in the 2026 midterm elections, with both parties vying for control of the evenly divided upper chamber. The Republican runoff will test the strength of the MAGA wing of the party against the establishment, while the tight Democratic primary reflects the diversity of the party's base in the state.
The details
Cornyn, a three-term incumbent, finished first in the Republican primary but failed to reach the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff. Paxton, the state's attorney general who has aligned himself closely with former President Trump, came in second. On the Democratic side, Crockett and Talarico are locked in a close race, with some outstanding ballots still to be counted in Crockett's home base of Dallas County.
- The Republican primary runoff will take place in May 2026.
- The Democratic primary remains too close to call as of March 4, 2026.
The players
John Cornyn
Longtime Republican senator from Texas who is seeking re-election.
Ken Paxton
Texas Attorney General and MAGA-aligned Republican candidate for Senate.
Jasmine Crockett
Democratic Congresswoman running for the Senate seat.
James Talarico
Democratic state Representative also running for the Senate seat.
The takeaway
The Texas Senate primary results reflect the ongoing ideological divisions within both the Republican and Democratic parties, setting up a high-stakes general election battle in this crucial swing state.
