Texas Senate war: Talarico clinches Dem bid while GOP titans Cornyn and Paxton brace for battle
DALLAS, TEXAS: State Rep James Talarico won the Democratic nomination for US Senate in Texas on Tuesday, March 3, defeating US Rep Jasmine Crockett in a closely watched and costly primary.
The outcome sets up a general election contest in November. However, Talarico’s Republican opponent will be determined in a May 26 runoff between Sen John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The primary marks the start of the 2026 midterm cycle in Texas, a state where Democrats have not won a statewide office in more than three decades. Both parties now turn to competitive contests that could shape control of Congress.
John Cornyn and Ken Paxton advance to runoff as GOP battle intensifies
On the Republican side, Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term, failed to secure the majority needed to avoid a runoff, setting up a high-profile contest with Paxton.
US Rep Wesley Hunt finished third and conceded, but his presence in the race made it more difficult for any candidate to surpass the 50% threshold required to win outright.
Cornyn acknowledged the competitive challenge and warned that nominating Paxton could complicate the party’s general election prospects.
“I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton to risk everything we’ve worked so hard to build over these many years,” Cornyn said.
He added, “I’ve worked for decades to build the Republican Party, both here in Texas and nationally.”
Paxton, addressing supporters in Dallas, emphasized his alignment with President Donald Trump.
Referring to a recent visit to Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, he said that he felt energized and told supporters, “We proved something they’ll never understand in Washington.”
He also declared: “Texas is not for sale.” Both candidates have highlighted their ties to Trump, who has not endorsed either contender. The runoff is expected to intensify competition for the president’s support.
Talarico declared victory with an optimistic message to supporters, saying, “We're about to take back Texas.”
Crockett, meanwhile, signaled that her campaign planned legal action over voting irregularities in Dallas County. She warned briefly on election night that “people have been disenfranchised."
Democrats look to November amid broader primary battles
In the Democratic primary, Talarico and Crockett presented contrasting styles as they argued over who would be best positioned to compete statewide.
Talarico, a seminarian, campaigned in heavily Republican regions and emphasized unity.
“We are not just trying to win an election,” he told supporters before the race was called. “We are trying to fundamentally change our politics. And it’s working.”
Crockett, who has gained national attention for her outspoken criticism of Republicans, focused on mobilizing Black voters in Dallas and Houston.
Voters expressed differing views: Dallas resident Tanu Sani said Talarico “really spoke to me in the way he tries to unify,” while Tomas Sanchez said he backed Crockett because “she cares about immigrants, she cares about the American people in a way that a lot of the Republicans have proven they haven’t.”
Elsewhere in Texas, several congressional primaries reflected newly redrawn district boundaries. Republican Gov Greg Abbott won his primary decisively and will face Democratic state Rep Gina Hinojosa in November.
