{"id":665145,"date":"2026-03-18T19:44:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/665145\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T19:44:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:44:16","slug":"ballot-set-for-may-26-primary-runoff-with-cornyn-paxton-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/665145\/","title":{"rendered":"Ballot set for May 26 primary runoff, with Cornyn-Paxton showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ballot is now set for Republican and Democratic primary runoffs, where a handful of incumbents who failed to secure at least 50% support in their party\u2019s March primary must now go head-to-head against their closest challengers.<\/p>\n

Republican leaders had hoped to avoid a bruising 12-week runoff between U.S. Sen\u00a0John Cornyn<\/a>\u00a0(R-Texas) and his primary challenger Attorney General\u00a0Ken Paxton<\/a>, but neither candidate budged<\/a> before Tuesday\u2019s deadline to take their names off the May 26 runoff ballot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be able to give the attorney general my full and undivided attention, and he\u2019ll be receiving that,\u201d Cornyn said confidently<\/a> of his runoff prospects before the March 3 race.<\/p>\n

GOP leaders were also waiting anxiously to receive a written withdrawal confirmation from U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales<\/a> (R-San Antonio), who they\u2019ve pressured to<\/a> drop his reelection bid after opening an investigation into his affair with a staffer<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Gonzales agreed to stand down<\/a> on March 5 \u2014 a move that should cancel his primary runoff<\/a> and make 30-year-old gun YouTuber Brandon Herrera<\/a> the party\u2019s nominee for Texas\u2019 massive 23rd Congressional District. <\/p>\n

GOP leaders embrace Brandon Herrera in TX23<\/a><\/p>\n

Local Democrats, meanwhile, saw several of their officials pushed to primary runoffs, including Bexar County Clerk\u00a0Lucy Adame-Clark<\/a>, District Clerk\u00a0Gloria Martinez<\/a> and Judge\u00a0Cesar Garcia<\/a>\u00a0in County Court at Law No. 10.<\/p>\n

The party was waiting for several days after the primary for the final vote count to see who would advance from a close District Clerk race<\/a>. Martinez will officially face former District Clerk staffer Christine \u201cChris\u201d Castillo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other big races on the May 26 ballot include Republican and Democratic runoffs in San Antonio\u2019s new 35th Congressional District<\/a>, and a showdown between both parties\u2019 top contenders for an open attorney general seat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Early voting runs May 18 through May 22 for the May 26 primary runoff.<\/p>\n

Read more about the races Republicans<\/a> and Democrats<\/a> are still deciding
in the San Antonio Report\u2019s Primary Runoff Voter Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few reminders about the\u00a0how the primary runoff works in Texas<\/a>:<\/p>\n