Texas Senate Primary Heats Up as Candidates Make Final Push Before Tuesday Vote

Republican Senator John Cornyn faces a tough primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt in Tuesday's election. Democrats see their best chance since 1988 to flip the seat, with Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico leading their party's race.

SAN ANTONIO — Texas voters will head to the polls Tuesday for what’s shaping up to be one of the most expensive and closely watched Senate primaries in the nation, marking the first major electoral test of the 2026 midterm cycle.

Republican Senator John Cornyn finds himself in an unusual position for a Texas GOP incumbent, battling to avoid becoming the first Republican senator from the Lone Star State to fall in a primary. His main challengers include Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt, both seeking to unseat the longtime senator.

On the Democratic side, party leaders believe they have their strongest opportunity since 1988 to capture a Texas Senate seat, though they must first navigate their own competitive primary battle.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, known for her sharp exchanges with President Donald Trump, emphasized her Washington experience during a Sunday church visit, highlighting the federal dollars she’s secured for her district.

“So yes, I will clash with folk when it’s time to do so but I actually govern as well,” Crockett stated during her appearance.

Crockett acknowledged the Black women who form her base of support across Texas and beyond. If victorious, she would make history as the first Black woman elected to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. Her campaign received a boost Friday with an endorsement from former Vice President Kamala Harris, while Senators Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Ayanna Presley of Massachusetts joined her on the campaign trail over the weekend.

Meanwhile, State Representative James Talarico, a seminary student who promotes his ability to attract Republican voters, planned a San Antonio rally as part of what he calls his final campaign tour.

The spotlight has largely remained on Cornyn’s vulnerable position, with both parties pouring massive resources into the March 3 contest.

“Complacency is a killer,” Cornyn warned supporters Saturday during a stop at a seafood establishment in The Woodlands, near Houston. “It kills relationships. It kills careers.”

Republican leadership in Washington has expressed concern for months about potentially losing what was once considered a safe Texas seat if GOP voters select Paxton, who appeals to Trump supporters but carries significant legal baggage.

Fundraising has reached unprecedented levels for this primary, with Talarico outpacing Crockett in total donations raised. His campaign alone has invested $13 million in television advertisements this year, surpassing all other entities in the race, according to AdImpact, which monitors political advertising.

Total spending on advertising and reserved airtime has exceeded $110 million ahead of Tuesday’s vote, setting a new record for Senate primary contests. Cornyn’s campaign and supporting organizations account for more than $67 million of that total, primarily targeting Paxton while also working to prevent Hunt’s advancement.

Should no candidate secure 50 percent of the vote Tuesday, the primary will advance to a runoff between the top two finishers on May 26.

President Trump’s Friday appearance in Texas, where he spoke about energy policy at the Port of Corpus Christi, attracted all leading Republican Senate hopefuls. Though Trump indicated he’s “pretty much” made his endorsement decision, he stopped short of revealing his choice.

“We have a great attorney general, Ken Paxton. Where’s Ken? Hi, Ken,” Trump remarked. He continued, “And we have a great senator, John Cornyn. Hi, John.”

Acknowledging their competition, Trump observed: “It’s going to be an interesting one, right? They’re both great people.”

Despite his extensive Texas political background, Paxton has positioned himself as an outsider to Washington politics and a devoted Trump ally.

“I’m not going up to Washington, D.C., to join the swamp club,” Paxton declared at a Fort Worth campaign stop. “I will go up there and fight for you.”