Austin, United States- Texas voters selected party nominees for several major races in the March 3, 2026 primary elections, setting the stage for competitive contests in the November midterms. Results confirmed Democratic and Republican nominees in multiple statewide and congressional races, while several contests will advance to runoff elections, according to election officials and media projections.
In the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn, Texas state Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett to secure the party’s nomination, according to multiple media reports. Talarico will face the Republican nominee in the general election after GOP voters failed to produce a majority winner, sending the Republican contest to a runoff.
On the Republican side of the Senate race, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton emerged as the top vote-getters and will compete in a May runoff after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote required to win the nomination outright.
In the race for governor, Democratic state lawmaker Gina Hinojosa won her party’s nomination and will challenge Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in November. Abbott is seeking a fourth term in office in a state where Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election since 1990.
Several congressional races also produced notable outcomes. In Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, Republican state Rep. Steve Toth defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the GOP primary, a result widely described as a major upset. The Associated Press called the race after vote counts showed Toth with a clear lead over the four-term congressman.
Elsewhere in congressional contests, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia won her party’s primary in Texas’ redrawn 29th District, overcoming a challenge from former Houston city council member Jarvis Johnson after boundary changes altered the district’s voter composition.
Statewide and legislative primaries also produced several changes. In the Republican primary for agriculture commissioner, Nate Sheets defeated incumbent Sid Miller, according to election data compiled by The Associated Press and state sources.
Voting on primary day was accompanied by confusion in some counties following changes to polling rules that required voters to cast ballots at assigned precincts rather than any countywide location. Election officials reported logistical problems and legal challenges related to extended voting hours in parts of the state.
Texas requires candidates in primary elections to receive more than 50% of the vote to secure a nomination outright. When no candidate reaches that threshold, the top two finishers advance to a runoff election, scheduled this year for May 26.
The primary results mark the first major electoral test of the 2026 U.S. midterm cycle, with Texas contests expected to draw national attention because of the state’s size and influence in federal politics.
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Hannah Price is a digital journalist who covers breaking news, global events, and trending stories with accuracy and speed. She has previously contributed to several online magazines and has built a reputation for verifying facts before publishing. Hannah believes in responsible reporting and aims to present stories in a way that readers can trust.
