Texas 2026 Primary Results
Texas primary results 2026 U.S. House
The 2026 Texas primary elections concluded with a series of dramatic upsets that have signaled a significant shift in the state’s political trajectory. In the most high-profile contest of the night, State Representative James Talarico secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, defeating U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett in a race that garnered national attention for its stylistic and strategic contrasts. Talarico, an Austin-area lawmaker known for his progressive faith-based messaging, managed to build a broad coalition that overcame Crockett’s strong support in urban centers like Dallas. This victory marks a turning point for Texas Democrats as they look toward the general election with a nominee who has emphasized economic populism and bipartisan outreach. The result arrived despite a day of logistical hurdles in Dallas County, where a court battle over extended voting hours added a layer of uncertainty to the final tabulation of ballots.
On the Republican side, the battle for the U.S. Senate remains unresolved as veteran incumbent John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are officially headed for a high-stakes runoff on May 26. Neither candidate was able to secure the 50% majority required to win the nomination outright, with Cornyn finishing slightly ahead of Paxton in a crowded field that also included Congressman Wesley Hunt. The upcoming runoff is expected to be one of the most expensive and combative in state history, as both candidates vie for the support of the party’s conservative base. Paxton has already framed the contest as a fight against the Washington establishment, while Cornyn has warned that a “flawed” nominee could jeopardize Republican chances in the fall. This internal friction mirrors the broader national landscape where traditional party leaders are increasingly challenged by populist factions aligned with the current administration.
The U.S. House races also delivered a stunning blow to the Republican establishment as three-term incumbent Dan Crenshaw lost his reelection bid to state Representative Steve Toth in the Houston-area 2nd District. Toth ran a campaign heavily focused on his alignment with President Donald Trump and successfully characterized Crenshaw as insufficiently conservative for the redrawn district. This defeat marks the first time a sitting Republican member of the Texas delegation has been unseated by a primary challenger in this cycle, highlighting the potent influence of the “America First” movement in local politics. Meanwhile, in the 23rd Congressional District, Republican incumbent Tony Gonzales has been forced into a repeat primary runoff against gun activist Brandon Herrera. Gonzales, who has faced recent allegations of an affair with a staffer, failed to clear the majority threshold, setting up a contentious May rematch in a district that covers hundreds of miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Democratic House primaries also saw significant developments as the party prepares for a general election focused on reclaiming a majority in Washington. In the redrawn 33rd Congressional District, former U.S. Representative Colin Allred and State Representative Julie Johnson appear headed for a May runoff to determine the nominee for the solidly blue Dallas-area seat. In the 18th District, Christian Menefee continues to consolidate support following his recent special election victory, aiming to secure a full term in the seat previously held by the late Sylvester Turner. Elsewhere, State Representative Gina Hinojosa cruised to an easy victory in the Democratic primary for governor, setting up a November clash with incumbent Greg Abbott, who easily won his record fourth Republican nomination. These results break alongside other major headlines this week, including the historic conviction of Colin Gray in Georgia and the escalating military conflict in Kuwait.
