Here's what to watch for in the Texas primary runoff election today

Texas Primary Runoff Elections Include Contests for U.S. Senate, House Districts and State Offices

Texas voters will decide several Republican and Democratic primary runoff races on Tuesday, including the contest for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Other races on the ballot involve the state attorney general, railroad commissioner and multiple congressional districts.

Neither Cornyn nor Paxton received a majority in the March primary, sending the race to a runoff. President Trump endorsed Paxton one day after early voting began for the runoff. Cornyn, first elected to the Senate in 2002, received the most votes in the March primary but fell short of 50 percent. Paxton has supported Trump since before the 2016 election.

No Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994. The winner of the Republican runoff will be the favorite in the November general election against Democratic nominee James Talarico.

Trump did not endorse in the Senate race immediately after the March primary. He later stated he would endorse “SOON” and suggested the non-endorsed candidate should withdraw. Paxton indicated he would not withdraw unless the Senate passed a voter identification measure supported by Trump known as the SAVE America Act. Trump held a rally in Texas in March without endorsing a Senate candidate. He endorsed Paxton six days before the runoff vote.

Rice University political science professor Mark Jones stated that Trump’s endorsement altered the dynamics of the race. Trump-endorsed candidates prevailed in recent runoffs in Louisiana and Kentucky.

Republicans had viewed Cornyn as the stronger general-election candidate against Talarico. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has spent millions opposing Paxton. Paxton has raised less money than Cornyn overall.

Paxton was elected attorney general in 2014. He filed a lawsuit challenging the 2020 presidential election results in four states; the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the case. In 2015 he was indicted on securities fraud charges that were dismissed in 2024 under a pre-trial diversion agreement. In 2023 the Texas House impeached him on charges including bribery and dereliction of duty by a 121-23 vote; the state Senate acquitted him.

The Cornyn-Paxton contest has set a record for primary spending, with AdImpact reporting more than $120 million spent on advertising through the runoff.

18th Congressional District Democrats

After the Texas Legislature redrew congressional maps, creating additional districts more favorable to Republicans, two Democratic incumbents advanced to a runoff in the 18th District. Rep. Christian Menefee and Rep. Al Green each received less than 50 percent in the March primary. Menefee led the primary vote. A University of Houston poll conducted earlier this month showed Menefee ahead among supporters of eliminated candidate Amanda Edwards.

Green, 80, has represented the 9th District since 2005. After the new map altered his district to a more Republican-leaning configuration, he filed in the 18th District. Menefee, 38, won a special election earlier this year to succeed the late Rep. Sylvester Turner. The 18th District remains heavily Democratic, so the runoff winner is favored in November.

35th Congressional District

Democrats are holding a runoff in the 35th District between Maureen Galindo and Johnny Garcia. Galindo received 29 percent in the March primary to Garcia’s 27 percent. The district, located in the San Antonio area, became more Republican-leaning after redistricting.

After Galindo called for imprisonment of “American Zionists,” some House Democrats stated they would seek her expulsion if she won the general election. Rep. Josh Gottheimer said he would file an expulsion motion daily if she were seated. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ran advertisements supporting Garcia. Talarico endorsed Garcia and stated he would not campaign with Galindo if she won the nomination. Rep. Greg Casar also endorsed Garcia.

Republicans are also holding a runoff in the 35th District between state Rep. John Lujan and Carlos De La Cruz.

33rd Congressional District

In the Dallas-area 33rd District, Democratic incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson faces former Rep. Colin Allred. Allred received the most votes in March but did not reach 50 percent. The district was redrawn in 2025, changing its projected partisan composition from approximately 62 percent Democratic to 41 percent Democratic. Johnson won a special election in 2024. Allred, who previously represented the 32nd District, entered the 33rd District race after dropping a Senate bid.

Allred has received support from Rep. Jasmine Crockett on the campaign trail. Talarico has endorsed Johnson. The district remains heavily Democratic. Republicans Patrick David Gillespie and John Sims are also in a runoff in the district.

Attorney General

With Paxton running for Senate, Republicans are choosing a nominee for attorney general between U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and state Sen. Mayes Middleton. Middleton led a University of Houston poll earlier this month, 48 percent to 39 percent, with 13 percent undecided. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has endorsed Middleton; Sen. Ted Cruz has endorsed Roy.

Roy previously served as Paxton’s first assistant attorney general. Middleton has worked in oil and gas law. Democrats are also holding a runoff between state Sen. Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski.

Railroad Commissioner

Republicans are choosing a nominee for railroad commissioner between incumbent Chairman Jim Wright and Bo French. The three-member commission regulates the state’s oil and gas industry. Wright received 32.1 percent in the March primary and French received 31.75 percent.

French resigned as Tarrant County Republican Party chair earlier this year. He has discussed what he described as the “Islamic invasion of Texas” and called for deportation of 100 million people, including Native Americans. Wright has been endorsed by the other two commissioners, Gov. Greg Abbott, Patrick and the Texas Oil and Gas Association Good Government Committee. French has been endorsed by Turning Point Action and congressional nominees Steve Toth and Brandon Herrera.

The runoff elections will determine nominees in districts and offices where the eventual general-election winner is expected to prevail in November given current partisan alignments.