The Texas Senate primaries are heating up as John Cornyn warns that Ken Paxton’s nomination could jeopardize Republican control, while Democrats Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico vie for their party’s nomination.
The 2026 primary season is set to commence on Tuesday, featuring critical contests in Texas, North Carolina, and Arkansas. These races could ultimately determine whether Republicans maintain their majorities in the House and Senate during the midterm elections. Central to this week’s focus are the contentious Democratic and Republican Senate primaries in Texas, a state known for its conservative leanings.
On the Democratic side, progressive Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump, is facing off against rising star James Talarico, a state lawmaker. The winner of this primary will attempt to become the first Democrat to win a Senate election in Texas in nearly four decades. They will face the victor of a fierce three-way Republican primary involving incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
Cornyn’s campaign, along with affiliated super PACs, has invested nearly $100 million in advertisements targeting Paxton and Hunt. In the final weeks of the primary campaign, Cornyn has warned that if Paxton secures the GOP nomination, Democrats could flip the seat in the general election. He has pointed to Paxton’s history of scandals and ongoing legal issues as significant liabilities.
“If I’m the nominee, I’ll help President Trump by ensuring we carry the five new congressional seats and maintain this Senate seat,” Cornyn stated in an interview with Fox News Digital. He emphasized that nominating a candidate with “incredible baggage” like Paxton could jeopardize Trump’s agenda and the success of other Republican candidates down ballot.
Paxton, a MAGA supporter who gained national attention for his lawsuits against the Obama and Biden administrations, countered Cornyn’s claims. “I’m 3-0. I’ve won three statewide races,” he told Fox News Digital. He cited public opinion polls indicating he has an advantage over Cornyn and asserted that the senator’s comments stem from desperation as he faces a challenging primary.
The GOP nomination battle initially appeared to be a two-person race until Hunt, a West Point graduate and military veteran, entered the fray last autumn. Recent polling suggested Paxton leading Cornyn, with Hunt trailing in third. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff in late May. Cornyn expressed confidence that a runoff is likely, while Paxton indicated that such a scenario would improve his chances.
Hunt, in an interview with Fox News Digital, asserted that he is the strongest candidate to win both the primary and the general election. He pointed to the significant financial resources spent against him by Cornyn and his allies, suggesting that his candidacy poses a real threat. “DC will not decide who will be the next senator from Texas. Texans will,” Hunt declared.
Former President Trump, who remains a significant figure within the GOP, has not yet endorsed any candidate in the Republican primary. All three contenders attended a recent event hosted by Trump in Corpus Christi, where he remarked on the competitive nature of the race.
On the Democratic front, the primary has become increasingly contentious, with race emerging as a focal point in the contest between Crockett and Talarico. Crockett, who is Black, accused a Talarico-aligned super PAC of using racially insensitive tactics in their advertising. She has also criticized claims that she is unelectable statewide as a “dog whistle” aimed at undermining her candidacy.
Talarico, who is White, has emphasized his ability to attract Republican voters and questioned Crockett’s viability in a general election. He faced accusations of making racially insensitive remarks about former Rep. Colin Allred, who recently ended his Senate campaign to pursue his old House seat.
Crockett, who has garnered attention for her outspoken opposition to Trump, has argued that Democrats must focus on mobilizing low-propensity voters rather than attempting to convert Republican supporters. “I don’t know that we’ll necessarily convert all of Trump’s supporters. That’s not our goal,” she stated in a December interview.
Meanwhile, Talarico has gained national recognition through viral social media appearances and interviews, including a notable appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. His campaign reported a significant fundraising boost following a controversial incident where his interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” was moved to YouTube, which his team claimed was a form of censorship.
In the final days leading up to the primary, Crockett received endorsements from high-profile figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and rapper Cardi B, both of whom have urged voters to support her candidacy.
Democrats are optimistic about their chances in Texas this year, given the challenging political landscape for Republicans. In addition to the Senate primaries, several House races in Texas are also drawing attention, including a tough primary for embattled Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales and a challenge to conservative Rep. Dan Crenshaw.
In North Carolina, former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley is the frontrunner for the GOP Senate nomination, while former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to secure his party’s nomination, setting the stage for a competitive general election.
As the primary season unfolds, all eyes will be on Texas, where the outcomes could have significant implications for the future of both parties in the upcoming midterm elections, according to Fox News.