Nearly all of Texas’ statewide offices are on the ballot this year, but the U.S. Senate race is the marquee contest, thanks to tremendous national interest in who controls that legislative body.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the U.S. Senate and national Democrats need to flip four of them to take the majority.
Though Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat statewide in more than 30 years, it’s considered one of the top battlegrounds because only about a third of the Senate is up for reelection at once and nearly all of the GOP incumbents on the ballot in 2026 come from very red states.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report ranks Texas among the top five most vulnerable seats for Republicans, behind North Carolina, Maine and Ohio, and tied with Iowa.
Against that backdrop, the GOP primary has drawn mind-blowing spending as national Republicans try to protect incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who they see as the strongest general election candidate. He faces a challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton — a favorite of the conservative base, but whose personal baggage could become a liability in a midterm election that’s already looking tough for his party.
Early voting for the March 3 primary runs Feb. 17 through Feb. 27.
This race likely advances to a May 26 primary runoff, since there’s also a third candidate, U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Houston), raising big money from those who believe neither Cornyn nor Paxton can hold this seat long-term in a fast-growing state.
The GOP primary field includes eight total candidates.
As for the Democrats, the idea of running against Paxton was so enticing that at one point, many of the party’s highest profile candidates were fighting over the opportunity. But thanks to some last-minute shuffling before the filing deadline, the field is down to just three candidates, two of whom are raising real money.
Democrats are largely choosing between state Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock), a millennial seminarian with a big social media following, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas), an outspoken Trump critic who is popular with the Democratic base, but who Republicans are salivating about running against in a statewide contest.
Filing for the primaries closed on Dec. 8, and these are the candidates who Republicans and Democrats will be choosing from on their respective primary ballots.
The general election in November could also include independent candidates, who must collect signatures to get their names on the ballot, and third-party candidates, who are chosen through a different nominating process.
Voter guide profiles are compiled by San Antonio Report staff using candidates’ filing paperwork, campaign materials and past news coverage. Names are listed in the order they will appear on the March primary ballot.
Candidates for the Republican primary in Texas’ U.S. Senate race
Candidates for the Democratic primary in Texas’ U.S. Senate race