Sen. John Cornyn faces strong challenges in his Republican primary bid for a fifth term
Democrats are choosing between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico for their Senate nomination
The primaries could determine if Texas becomes competitive in the general election
Trump may endorse different candidates depending on the primary results
Significant spending differences characterize both primaries
📖 Full Retelling
Republican Senator John Cornyn faced strong challenges in his bid for a fifth term during the Texas primaries on March 3, 2026, as voters decided the state's competitive Senate races that could determine whether Texas becomes a battleground in November's general election. The first polls closed with Cornyn facing significant headwinds from state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt in the GOP primary, while on the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico were locked in a tough battle for their party's Senate nomination. If no candidate wins a majority of the primary vote, the races will head to a runoff on May 26. Democrats hope to be competitive in the traditionally Republican state as they face an uphill battle to net the four seats needed to flip control in the Senate. The Democratic primary voting was extended until 9 p.m. local time after a judge ruled to address voter confusion about polling locations. Cornyn has warned that Paxton's personal and professional controversies, including his impeachment in 2023 over bribery allegations, could put the Senate seat at risk. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, who has remained neutral in the primary, could endorse Cornyn if the race stays close to ensure a red seat stays Republican, but might support Paxton if he pulls ahead significantly. The prospect of a competitive Senate race has led to lopsided spending, with Cornyn and allies spending $78.5 million compared to Paxton's $4.4 million and Hunt's $12.2 million. On the Democratic side, Talarico and allies have spent $25.3 million while Crockett's side has spent $5.3 million.
🏷️ Themes
Senate Control, Political Survival, Texas competitiveness, Primary Strategy
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...
Jasmine Felicia Crockett (born March 29, 1981) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 30th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she represented the 100th district in the Texas House of Representatives from 2021 to 2023.
Born in St.
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...
GOP Sen. John Cornyn fights for political survival as Democrats choose their path in Texas The hotly contested Texas primaries could help shape the fight for control of the Senate in November. Add NBC News to Google Kornacki: Will incumbents ‘go down’ in tonight’s primaries in Texas and North Get more news on Share Add NBC News to Google March 3, 2026, 8:00 PM EST By Bridget Bowman Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 The first polls have closed in Texas, where voters are set to decide two hotly contested primaries for the Senate that could determine whether the state is in play in the general election. Sen. John Cornyn faces strong headwinds in his bid for a fifth term, with state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt challenging him in the GOP primary. If no candidate wins a majority of the primary vote, the race heads to a runoff May 26. And on the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico are locked in a tough battle for the party’s Senate nomination. Democrats hope they can be competitive in the traditionally Republican state this fall as they face an uphill battle to net the four seats needed to flip control in the Senate. It may take some time for votes to be counted in the Democratic race. A judge ruled Tuesday night to keep the polls in the Texas Democratic primary open for two hours longer than scheduled, until 9 p.m. local time, after voter confusion about polling locations. Because parties conduct Texas primaries, the order only applies to the Democratic primary. Cornyn has argued that if Paxton is the nominee, he could put the Senate seat at risk , given his personal and professional controversies. Paxton was impeached over allegations of bribery and corruption in 2023; the state Senate acquitted him . And Paxton’s wife announced last year that she was divorcing him “on biblical grounds.” Paxton has argued that he can energize President Donald Trump’s core base of supporters who have been less...
