Texas Democrats selected state Rep. James Talarico over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in their Senate primary on March 4, 2026, viewing him as more electable. On the Republican side, Sen. John Cornyn narrowly led Attorney General Ken Paxton, setting up a May runoff. President Donald Trump indicated he will endorse soon, likely backing Cornyn.
The Texas Senate primaries on March 4, 2026, produced competitive results that could shape the state's role in the national balance of power.
In the Democratic contest, state Rep. James Talarico emerged victorious over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett after a contentious race. Talarico, seen by both parties as the more electable candidate, emphasized inclusivity over partisan confrontation, which Crockett projected more strongly. With Republicans outnumbering Democrats in Texas, crossover appeal is crucial for Democrats aiming to flip the seat and contribute to a Senate majority.
Republicans headed to a late May runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, with Rep. Wesley Hunt finishing third. Cornyn garnered 42 percent of the vote to Paxton's 41 percent, defying pre-election polls that showed Paxton leading by about 4 points on average. Cornyn performed strongly in suburban areas like Travis and Dallas counties, leading by double digits, while holding his own in heavily Republican rural counties where Paxton built only a narrow edge.
The results boosted hopes among establishment Republicans that President Donald Trump would endorse Cornyn. Trump posted on Wednesday that he would endorse "soon" and urged the non-endorsed candidate to "DROP OUT OF THE RACE!" Reports indicated Trump is expected to back Cornyn, avoiding the risks of nominating Paxton, who faces scandals including a GOP-led impeachment, ethics complaints, a federal securities fraud investigation, and a recent divorce with infidelity allegations.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has long advocated for Cornyn, told reporters, "I’ve been making that case for a long time... and today, I think, even more emphatically given the outcome last night." He urged an early endorsement.
Cornyn, speaking on election night in Austin, said Republican voters' choice is "crystal clear." He added, "I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered, and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we’ve worked so hard to build over these many years." Paxton, addressing supporters, countered, "John Cornyn spent around $100 million trying to buy this seat... We spent around $5 million… We prove something they’ll never understand in Washington: Texas is not for sale."
National Republicans worry that Paxton could alienate general election voters against Talarico, potentially costing the party in a state Trump won by 14 points in 2024. An endorsement for Cornyn could conserve resources for other battlegrounds like Michigan and Georgia.
