Following state Rep. James Talarico's win over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the March 4, 2026, Democratic U.S. Senate primary, and Sen. John Cornyn's first-place finish short of a majority against Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP contest, new details emerge on record costs, party reactions, and a May 26 runoff outlook amid concerns over unity and funding.
The Texas U.S. Senate primaries on March 4, 2026, drew high voter turnout and became the most expensive in history, with Republicans spending over $70 million—potentially topping $100 million including the GOP runoff.
Talarico, a social media-savvy fundraiser and soon-to-be minister, provides Democrats a grassroots candidate in a state without a Democratic senator since 1994. National Democrats hailed the result as a "step forward" (Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer) but expressed caution on heavy investment, citing races in Montana and Iowa. Donor adviser Alex Hoffman noted, "You need a perfect storm to kill a white whale, and if it’s going to be Cornyn, then it’s not a perfect storm." The Senate Majority PAC said Texas could be competitive if Paxton prevails.
On the GOP side, Cornyn advanced to a May 26 runoff with Paxton. Paxton, campaigning against Cornyn for a year, affirmed on Real America's Voice, "I'm staying in this race. I owe it to the people of Texas."
President Donald Trump called for GOP unity behind one candidate in a Truth Social post. Analyst Jon Taylor said a Trump endorsement might not sway Paxton's MAGA supporters. Harris County Republican Chair Cindy Siegel stressed reconciliation: "You fight like hell to get your candidate... But you don't want to fight so hard that you tear the party apart."
Critics have attacked Talarico's progressive views on abortion and transgender rights as out of step with Texas. The primaries underscore shifting dynamics in the state amid national polarization.
