Texas Senate Primary Heads to Runoff After Tight Race

Incumbent John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will face off again in May after neither candidate reached 50% of the vote.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The first primaries of the year in Texas were marked by drama, particularly in the U.S. Senate race. Neither incumbent Sen. John Cornyn nor state Attorney General Ken Paxton were able to secure the 50% of the vote needed to avoid a runoff in May. The race remained tight, with Cornyn leading by around 26,000 votes out of 2.1 million cast as of Wednesday morning. The results showed no clear ideological or geographic divide, with both candidates performing well in different regions of the state.

Why it matters

The Texas Senate primary is one of the most closely watched races in the country, with the winner likely to face a competitive general election in November. The tight margin and need for a runoff highlights the continued divisions within the Republican party in Texas, as well as the state's shifting political landscape.

The details

Cornyn, who was attacked by Paxton as being too aligned with establishment Republicans, led in the state's largest counties including those around Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Houston. But Paxton remained competitive, trailing by narrow margins in Harris County (home to Houston) and Bexar County (home to San Antonio). Paxton was able to build large leads in some of the fast-growing suburban counties around these cities, offsetting Cornyn's advantages in the urban areas.

  • The primary election was held on Tuesday, March 5, 2026.
  • The runoff election between Cornyn and Paxton is scheduled for May 2026.

The players

John Cornyn

The incumbent U.S. Senator for Texas, who was attacked by his opponent as being too aligned with establishment Republicans.

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General, who positioned himself as the more MAGA-faithful candidate in the race against Cornyn.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

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

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.