James Talarico wins Democratic nomination in Texas
Roy Cooper becomes Democratic nominee in North Carolina Senate race
Multiple incumbents face challenges in these primaries
Voting access issues emerged in Dallas County
π Full Retelling
Voters across Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas headed to the polls on Tuesday, March 4, 2026, participating in the first primaries of the 2026 midterm election season, with results from these states potentially having significant consequences for control of Congress. The Texas Republican Senate primary headed for a runoff as incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt failed to secure over 50% of the vote, setting up a competitive race until May 26 that could see another $100 million spent on top of the nearly $100 million already invested. On the Democratic side, state Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a contest centered on approach rather than policy differences, with both candidates being progressive but differing in their strategies for potential general election success in the traditionally Republican state. In North Carolina, former Gov. Roy Cooper secured the Democratic nomination for the open Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, setting up a matchup against former Trump Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley in a race that could determine party control of the Senate.
Roy Asberry Cooper III ( KUUP-Ιr; born June 13, 1957) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 75th governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 50th attorney general of North Carolina from 2001 to 2017 and served in the North Carolina General As...
John Cornyn III ( KOR-nin; born February 2, 1952) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator for Texas, a seat he has held since 2002. A member of the Republican Party, Cornyn chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 2009 to 2013.
Born in Houston, Cornyn i...
James Dell Talarico ( TA-luh-REE-koh; born May 17, 1989) is an American politician, Presbyterian seminarian, and former public school teacher serving since 2018 as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, Talarico has been called a "rising star" among Texas D...
Analysis 5 takeaways from the first primaries of the 2026 midterms March 4, 2026 4:23 AM ET Domenico Montanaro A "VOTE" sign is posted near a polling center on Tuesday in Austin, Texas. Texas held their primary elections including two hotly contested races for Democratic and Republican Senate nominations. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Brandon Bell/Getty Images The first primaries of the 2026 midterm campaign are in the books. The results in North Carolina and Texas could have big consequences for control of Congress. Not all the results are finalized as yet, but here are some takeaways from what is known: 1. Texas Republicans head for a runoff in the Senate primary. Will Trump get involved? The three-way race between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt meant that no one was able to get above 50% of the vote. That means 12 more weeks of the Texas Senate GOP primary β until May 26. This has already been the most expensive Senate primary in history, and another $100 million could be spent on top of the nearly $100 million that was already spent on just the Republican side, mostly to buoy Cornyn. Elections Only a fraction of House seats are competitive. Redistricting is driving that lower Cornyn vs. Paxton is really the old vestiges of the traditional GOP against the new MAGA pugilists. The question is whether President Trump will get involved and put his finger on the scale to pick the candidate he thinks can win. Trump avoided making an endorsement in the lead-up, saying he liked all three candidates, but with the Democratic side decided β state Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett β does Trump change his mind? He may decide that the money that would be spent among the warring Republicans in a likely GOP seat would be better spent on races in swing districts. Loading... 2. Will Democrats finally win in Texas? Texas has been Democrats' white whale, their Lucy and the football β ge...
