Voters across Texas head to the polls on Tuesday for high-stakes primaries that will set the stage for a critical Senate race and several House contests reshaped by a Republican gerrymander. The outcomes will test both parties' appetite for political change under President Donald Trump, with early voting surging and spending topping $122m, making it the most expensive Senate primary on record.
In the Republican primary, four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn faces a challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a conservative culture warrior backed by the Make America Again movement. Cornyn emphasises his seniority and alignment with Trump, while Paxton presents himself as the vanguard of the president's agenda. A third candidate, Congressman Wesley Hunt, is expected to prevent either from winning outright, potentially forcing a runoff.
The Democratic contest features two progressive figures: state representative James Talarico, who advocates a 'politics of love' rooted in Christian faith and appeals to rural voters, and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a firebrand who argues high turnout among young and minority voters is key to victory. The race highlights the party's internal debate over whether to focus on energising the base or courting swing voters.
Democrats see a rare opening in Texas, which has not elected a statewide Democrat since 1994, after a recent special election win in a Republican-held district. The outcome of the primaries will shape strategies for the general election, with control of the Senate at stake.
