Trending Now - Texas Senate Primary Heads to Runoff as Voter Confusion Persists

WHO:

President Trump: Did not endorse a candidate prior to the primary.

Sen. John Cornyn: Incumbent Republican senator seeking a fifth term.

Ken Paxton: Texas Attorney General and candidate in the Republican primary.

Rep. Wesley Hunt: Candidate in the Republican primary, finished third.

James Talarico: Democratic Texas Senate candidate.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett: Democratic Texas Senate candidate.

Kardal Coleman: Chairman of the Dallas County Democratic Party.

Allen West: Chairman of the Dallas County GOP.

Brandon Rottinghaus: Political science professor at the University of Houston.

Natalia Contreras: Covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat.

WHAT:

Cornyn and Paxton will advance to a runoff in the Texas Republican primary for U.S. Senate on May 26, 2026.

Neither candidate received over 50% of the vote in the primary.

Over $110 million spent on television ads in the primary race by February 23, 2026.

Dallas County extended voting hours by two hours after a court order.

Polls in Democratic precincts in Dallas County will remain open until 10 p.m. ET.

Cornyn and his allies spent nearly $100 million on ads attacking Paxton and Hunt.

Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 on 20 counts, including bribery and abuse of public trust, but was acquitted by the state Senate.

Paxton's wife, Angela Paxton, filed for divorce in 2025 on "biblical grounds."

WHERE:

Texas: Location of the primary election.

Dallas County: Location where voting hours were extended.

Corpus Christi: Location of a rally attended by all three Republican candidates.

WHEN:

Primary election held on March 3, 2026.

Runoff election scheduled for May 26, 2026.

Voting hours extended to 10 p.m. ET on March 3, 2026.

Deadline for receiving mail-in ballots is March 12, 2026.

Statewide canvass of races must be completed by March 15, 2026.

WHY:

Confusion over new voting rules requiring voters to cast ballots at assigned polling locations led to hundreds of voters being turned away.

Cornyn's campaign argues that a flawed candidate like Paxton could jeopardize the Republican agenda and Senate seat.

HOW:

Dallas County elections officials confirmed voters were being redirected to their correct precincts.

Election results will be reported within 24 hours after polls close, with early voting totals posted shortly after polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

Hand-counting of ballots in Gillespie and Eastland counties may delay results due to human error risks.

In the Texas Republican primary held last Monday, Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will advance to a runoff on May 26, 2026, after neither candidate secured over 50% of the vote. Over $110 million was spent on television ads leading up to the primary, with Cornyn's campaign arguing that Paxton's controversial past, including his impeachment on multiple counts in 2023, could threaten the Republican agenda. Meanwhile, voting hours in Dallas County were extended to 10 p.m. ET due to a court order, as confusion over new voting rules resulted in hundreds of voters being turned away from the polls.