March 3, 2026 – Texas voters set the stage for high-stakes November elections during the state primaries, with key battles in the U.S. Senate, gubernatorial contests, and other statewide offices capturing national attention.
U.S. Senate:
In the Democratic primary, State Representative James Talarico won outright, defeating U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett with approximately 53% of the vote. On the Republican side, no candidate reached the 50% threshold, setting up a runoff on May 26, 2026, between incumbent Senator John Cornyn (42%) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (41%).
Statewide Races:
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Governor: Republican incumbent Greg Abbott dominated his primary with over 80% of the vote. He will face Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who won her party’s nomination with roughly 60%.
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Lieutenant Governor: Republican Dan Patrick secured re-election in the primary with 85% of votes. The Democratic nomination is headed to a runoff between Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Velez.
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Attorney General: Both parties will have runoff elections. Republicans Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy will face off, while Democrats Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski are likely to contend.
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Agriculture Commissioner: In a major upset, businessman Nate Sheets defeated three-term Republican incumbent Sid Miller.
U.S. House Highlights:
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District 2: State Representative Steve Toth unseated incumbent Republican Dan Crenshaw.
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District 15: Latin music star Bobby Pulido won the Democratic nomination.
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District 18: Incumbent Christian Menefee narrowly led Al Green for the Democratic nomination.
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District 23: Tony Gonzales will face a runoff against activist Brandon Herrera.
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District 30: Freddy Haynes won the Democratic nomination to succeed Jasmine Crockett.
The Texas primaries demonstrate shifting political dynamics, with several unexpected outcomes reshaping party landscapes and setting the tone for the critical 2026 midterm elections. Analysts will closely monitor runoffs and final nominations as candidates prepare for November showdowns.
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