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Texas voters are making their choices in the 2026 midterm primaries, with key races for the U.S. Senate shaping up the political landscape. The Republican primary sees Sen. John Cornyn facing Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt, while Democrats choose between candidates backed by Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. Down-ballot races and North Carolina's Senate primaries add further interest to the election night.
Texas voters cast their ballots in the initial salvos of the 2026 midterm elections, with Republicans and Democrats determining their candidates for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The race in Texas features a prominent battleground, where Senator John Cornyn faces challenges from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt in the GOP primary. If no candidate secures at least 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff election scheduled for May.
Cornyn’s campaign, along with its allied organizations, has significantly outspent Paxton and Hunt; nevertheless, Paxton has consistently held the lead in pre-election polling. This has triggered concerns within establishment Republicans in Washington, who worry that Paxton's nomination might weaken the party's chances in the general election, potentially leading to a shift of Texas towards the Democratic Party for the first time in generations. Paxton and his team maintain confidence in his ability to win the general election, emphasizing his resilience through impeachment attempts and multiple successful statewide elections. The Democratic contest pits former President Barack Obama's choice, James Talarico, against former Vice President Kamala Harris' pick, Representative Jasmine Crockett. Recent events, including a misrepresentation by Talarico and his allies regarding a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) action, have injected momentum into Talarico's campaign. Crockett, who had maintained a consistent lead in polls, faces uncertainty due to potential voter turnout issues in her home base of Dallas. This race is seen as a key indicator of the direction of the Democratic party. The election also sets a precedent for the party's choice of a presidential candidate in 2028. The battle between Obama and Harris's favored candidates could set the stage for many debates in the future.\Down-ballot races also see increased interest. Multiple GOP congressmen, including Representatives Tony Gonzales and Dan Crenshaw, are facing challenging primaries and the possibility of defeat. Besides Texas, North Carolina voters are also picking their nominees for the U.S. Senate. It is widely predicted that Republicans will nominate former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley and Democrats will nominate former Governor Roy Cooper. Arkansas voters, despite not having many competitive federal primaries this cycle, are also heading to the polls. Senator Tom Cotton is running for reelection in Arkansas. The closing times of the polls vary across the states, providing a spread of election results to the nation. Texas polls begin closing at 8 PM ET. While in North Carolina polls close at 7:30 p.m. ET. Arkansas polls begin closing at 8:30 p.m. ET. As the vote counting begins in the initial primaries of the 2026 midterm elections, results, news, and analyses can be tracked.\With a reported 56% of the vote in the Texas GOP Senate primary, Cornyn is maintaining a lead over Paxton. The current vote count shows Cornyn leading with 43.41% compared to Paxton's 40.4%, a difference of around 37,000 votes. This lead presents a challenge for Paxton. If Cornyn secures a first-place finish, it may prompt President Trump to endorse Cornyn in the runoff, especially given the likelihood of Talarico winning in the general election, instead of Crockett. Some Republicans would have preferred facing Crockett in November because of the belief she would be an easier candidate to beat. Additionally, Representative Dan Crenshaw is projected to have lost his primary race to Steve Toth. Crenshaw, who has been a strong advocate for war. This outcome could have a significant impact in Washington, particularly as the ongoing conflict with Iran continues. It could potentially pressure Trump to end the war quickly. Cook Political Report's Dave Wasserman projects that Cornyn and Paxton will advance to a runoff in May, setting the stage for a critical phase in the Texas Senate race
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Texas Senate Primaries 2026 Midterm Elections John Cornyn Ken Paxton Jasmine Crockett James Talarico Dan Crenshaw
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