Particle.news
Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store
101 ARTICLES
·
3d ago

Texas Senate Primaries Tighten as Democratic Turnout Surges and GOP Runoff Looms

Record turnout plus a Harris endorsement of Jasmine Crockett set up volatile primaries Tuesday.

Texas Republicans are choosing between incumbent Senator John Cornyn (R), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (L)
Primary candidate for U.S. Senate Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, speaks to reporters and supporters before voting early in the primary election, in Dallas, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Texas state Rep. Steve Toth in in Spring, Texas, in January 2022.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) walks to the Senate floor on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 15, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo

Overview

  • Former Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Jasmine Crockett on Friday with a robocall, boosting the Democrat days before her matchup with James Talarico.
  • Democratic early voting has surged to nearly 1.2 million ballots through Thursday, with analysts citing the Crockett–Talarico race as the key driver and some projecting record totals by Election Day.
  • On the Republican side, multiple polls show Ken Paxton leading, though a new University of Texas at Tyler survey puts John Cornyn ahead; President Trump visited Texas on Friday but remained neutral.
  • Republican donors and Cornyn-aligned groups have poured more than $60 million into the race to blunt Paxton, as attack ads escalate across the GOP field.
  • If no GOP candidate clears 50% on March 3, a May 26 runoff is expected, a scenario strategists say could drain resources and heighten general-election risks in a state where Republicans have long dominated statewide contests.