<p>Texas will hold primary runoff elections on May 26, 2026, featuring significant races for both Republicans and Democrats as the state emerges as a key battleground ahead of the midterm elections.</p>
<p>Several races advanced to runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary, the initial major nominating contest of the 2026 election cycle.</p>
<p>The outcomes may have national implications, particularly for the Democratic Party's efforts to engage Hispanic voters after previous gains by Republicans in 2024. Democrats are optimistic about Senate nominee James Talarico's competitiveness in the general election.</p>
<h2>John Cornyn vs. Ken Paxton</h2>
<p>Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are competing in a closely watched Republican runoff. Cornyn led the March primary with 42% of the vote, while Paxton received 40.5%. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton, which has raised concerns among some Republicans about Paxton's potential to impact the general election negatively.</p>
<p>The race highlights divisions within the Republican Party, with Cornyn defending his conservative credentials against attacks from Paxton's camp regarding his support for bipartisan gun control measures. Paxton has faced scrutiny over personal and political scandals, including a 2023 impeachment trial, from which he was acquitted.</p>
<h2>Chip Roy vs. Mayes Middleton</h2>
<p>Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) is contesting against Texas state Senator Mayes Middleton for the Republican nomination for attorney general. Middleton led the March primary with 39.1% of the vote, while Roy garnered 31.6%. The winner is expected to succeed Paxton, as no Democrat has held the position since 1994.</p>
<p>Roy has gained national recognition as a conservative voice, while Middleton has utilized his personal wealth to fund his campaign.</p>
<h2>Christian Menefee vs. Al Green</h2>
<p>In a Democratic runoff, Representative Christian Menefee (D-TX) faces longtime Representative Al Green (D-TX) after redistricting placed them in the same district. Menefee narrowly led the March primary with 46% of the vote compared to Green's 44.2%. The race has focused on themes of age and generational change.</p>
<h2>Julie Johnson vs. Colin Allred</h2>
<p>Representative Julie Johnson (D-TX) is competing against former Representative Colin Allred in another Democratic runoff. Allred, who previously ran for Senate, led the March primary with 44% of the vote, while Johnson received 33.2%. The race has become contentious, with accusations of Allred being too accommodating to Republican positions.</p>
<h2>Texas’s 35th Congressional District</h2>
<p>Voters in Texas’s 35th Congressional District will also select nominees for both parties. On the Republican side, state Representative John Lujan faces Carlos De La Cruz, while Democrats will choose between Maureen Galindo and Johnny Garcia. Galindo has faced criticism for controversial social media posts, which have drawn condemnation from House Democratic leadership.</p>
