2026 Texas Primary Races

Abbott ran unopposed in the GOP primary. Gina Hinojosa won the Democratic field with 58.5%, setting up the general election matchup.

Ken Paxton defeated John Cornyn 64-36 in the May 26 GOP runoff, taking the Republican Senate nomination. James Talarico won the Democratic primary outright (52.5% over Crockett). General election Nov 3.

Open seat (Paxton left to run for Senate). Republican state senator Mayes Middleton won the May 26 runoff 55.2% over Chip Roy; Democratic state senator Nathan Johnson won his runoff 60.5% over Joe Jaworski. No major handicapper rates the race; the rating reflects Texas's structural lean for an open down-ballot statewide office.

Patrick cruised to the Republican nomination with 84.8%. Vikki Goodwin won the Democratic runoff over Marcos Velez 67.8% to 32.2% and faces Patrick on Nov 3.

Redistricting forced two Democratic incumbents into one seat. Menefee (46.1%) leads Green (44.2%) heading into a Democratic runoff. Safe Democratic in the general.

Newly redrawn Dallas-area district. Colin Allred defeated Rep. Julie Johnson 53.9% to 46.1% in the May 26 Democratic runoff after the redistricting pushed Johnson out of TX-32. Patrick Gillespie won the Republican runoff to face Allred, who is heavily favored in this safe-Democratic Dallas seat.

Open seat after Glenn Hegar left to become Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System (Kelly Hancock is serving as acting Comptroller). Don Huffines won the Republican primary with 57.4%, while Sarah Eckhardt won the Democratic primary with 64.1%. No major handicapper rates the race; the rating reflects Texas's structural lean (no Democrat has won Comptroller since 1994).

Nate Sheets upset three-term incumbent Sid Miller, winning the Republican primary with 52.7%. Democrat Clayton Tucker ran unopposed.

Bo French won the May 26 Republican runoff over incumbent James Wright after a tight five-way primary. Jon Rosenthal, a Houston state representative, ran unopposed for Democrats. No major handicapper rates the race; the rating reflects Texas's structural lean (the office has been Republican since 1994).

Buckingham ran unopposed in the GOP primary. Benjamin Flores won the Democratic nomination with 55.6% over Jose Loya.

Biggest upset of primary night, Toth ousted Crenshaw, the only Texas GOP incumbent without a Trump endorsement. Cruz-backed Toth won by 16 points. Safe Republican in the general.

Gonzales withdrew March 5 after an ethics scandal. Brandon Herrera, who led the primary 43.3% to 41.7%, is the automatic Republican nominee. Trump endorsed Herrera March 11. Cook and Sabato moved the race from Safe to Likely Republican after the withdrawal.

Cuellar survived his primary despite a federal bribery indictment, but faces a competitive general election. Tano Tijerina, a Democrat-turned-Republican Webb County judge, won the GOP primary decisively. Rated Lean D in an R+2 district.

Army veteran Eric Flores won the Republican primary outright with 56.6%, beating former Rep. Mayra Flores (23.7%). Democrat Vicente Gonzalez, the incumbent, won his primary with 62.7%. One of the most competitive general election races in Texas.

Houston-area open seat (SE Harris County + Galveston, Chambers, Liberty counties). Alex Mealer, Trump-endorsed former Harris County Judge candidate, leads Briscoe Cain (state rep, HD-128) by roughly 8-9 points heading into the runoff.

I-35 corridor district connecting San Antonio and Austin, redrawn Republican-leaning in the 2025 redistricting (Trump +10 in 2024). Carlos De La Cruz, brother of TX-15 incumbent Monica De La Cruz, won the Republican runoff over John Lujan. Bexar County deputy sheriff Johnny Garcia won the Democratic runoff over Maureen Galindo.

Travis County (Austin) Republican primary runoff, D+26 district. Ge'Nell Gary vs. Lauren Peña compete for the right to face the Democratic nominee in November.

Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz defends a Rio Grande Valley seat she first flipped in 2022. Her 2026 challenger is Bobby Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning Tejano singer from Edinburg who won the Democratic primary with 67%. The 2025 redistricting made the seat more Republican-leaning (Trump +18 in 2024), but Pulido's name recognition and regional fame keep Democrats competitive.

Blacklock ran unopposed in the GOP primary. Maggie Ellis won the Democratic nomination with 74.3% over Cory Carlyle.

Sullivan was unopposed in the Republican primary. Chari Kelly is the Democratic nominee. Unexpired term, Sullivan was appointed in 2024. Republicans have held every Texas Supreme Court seat since 1999.

Hawkins ran unopposed in the GOP primary. Kristen Hawkins (no relation) won the Democratic nomination with 75.6% over Gordon Goodman.

Busby was unopposed in the GOP primary. Gisela Triana is the Democratic nominee.

Open seat, Richardson did not seek re-election. Republicans head to a May 26 runoff between Alison Fox (31.3%) and Thomas Smith (30.7%). Okey Anyiam ran unopposed for Democrats.

Yeary was unopposed in the GOP primary. Audra Riley is the Democratic nominee. Republicans have held every seat on the Court of Criminal Appeals since 1998.

Open seat, Newell did not seek re-election. John Messinger won the Republican primary decisively with 68.9% over Jennifer Balido. Holly Taylor ran unopposed for Democrats.