Overview
- Initial returns and reporting point to the Republican U.S. Senate race heading to a May 26 runoff, with Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt short of a majority.
- Democrats’ U.S. Senate primary between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico remains highly competitive as party voters weigh contrasting styles for a statewide bid.
- More than 2.5 million Texans voted early, setting a primary record, and Texas’ majority‑to‑win rule means close races could take days to finalize and may trigger additional runoffs.
- AdImpact tracks over $122 million in advertising, making the Texas GOP Senate contest the most expensive Senate primary on record as NRSC‑backed Cornyn and Paxton trade attacks over ethics and electability.
- New GOP‑leaning House maps engineered through mid‑decade redistricting have produced a slate of contentious congressional primaries, even as candidates navigate voter attention shaped in part by recent U.S. strikes on Iran.