Texas GOP Senate Primary Update No candidate won outright in the March 2026 Republican U.S. Senate primary in Texas. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton advanced to a runoff election on May 26, 2026, after neither secured over 50% of the vote.

Primary Election Snapshot

The race drew intense national attention amid President Trump's reelection, pitting establishment favorite Cornyn against hardline challenger Paxton. Wesley Hunt placed third, splitting the field further.

Candidate| Status| Notes
---|---|---
John Cornyn| Runoff (Top 2)| Incumbent; backed by GOP moderates 5
Ken Paxton| Runoff (Top 2)| Trump ally; led attacks on Cornyn 6
Wesley Hunt| Eliminated (3rd)| Rising star but couldn't consolidate 10

Why It Headed to Runoff

Texas requires a primary majority for instant victory—neither hit it amid a crowded, high-stakes field fueled by MAGA vs. establishment tensions. Early results showed Paxton surging in rural areas, while Cornyn held urban strongholds like Dallas. This mirrors past Texas GOP primaries, like the 2022 Senate race where Paxton weighed a run but stayed out.

Broader Context

Democrats saw James Talarico win their primary decisively over Jasmine Crockett, setting up a general election clash. With Trump urging unity post- primary, the runoff could test GOP cohesion ahead of November 2026 midterms.

TL;DR: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton head to May 26 runoff—no outright winner yet.

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