Election 2026: Contested Primary Races in Texas and Panhandle The Texas primary election took place on Tuesday, featuring key races for U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, and State House District 86. Among the most anticipated contests was the Republican Senate primary, where longtime Senator John Cornyn and MAGA-backed candidate Ken Paxton advanced to a May runoff. On the Democratic side, State Representative James Talarico maintained a narrow lead over U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett in the same race. Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick secured their nominations without opposition, winning their respective primaries decisively. A notable upset occurred in the Agricultural Commissioner race, where incumbent Sid Miller lost to challenger Nate Sheets, a businessman known for founding the Nature Nate’s honey brand. Sheets will face goat farmer Clayton Tucker in the November general election. In the State House District 86 race, Holly Jeffreys defeated Jamie Haynes to claim the Republican nomination. The seat was previously held by John Smithee, who is retiring after nearly four decades in office. Jeffreys will now face Democrat Cullin Knutson, an Amarillo native, in the general election. The primary also saw significant changes on the Potter County Commission, with three of the five seats going to new candidates. Two commissioners running for re-election lost their bids, and longtime Judge Nancy Tanner chose not to seek a fourth term. Other local news included discussions about the Amarillo Parks and Recreation Board’s potential removal of thousands of prairie dogs from John Stiff Memorial Park due to concerns over the animals’ impact.#texas #john_cornyn #ken_paxton #james_talarico #jasmine_crockett
Key takeaways from first primaries of 2026 U.S. midterm elections Voters are poised to challenge multiple House incumbents in the 2026 midterms, but the race for Texas Senate seat remains a key focus. Four-term Senator John Cornyn(R-Texas) received a boost from primary voters, avoiding a potential defeat by Attorney General Ken Paxton in a May 26 runoff. While Paxton narrowly edged Cornyn in early voting, the outcome avoided a GOP nightmare scenario where Paxton could have secured an outright win. The Democratic Senate primary in Texas faced its own controversies. Representative Jasmine Crockett accused voters in Dallas County of being "disenfranchised" over polling place confusion and announced plans to sue. Despite her claims, she trailed state representative James Talarico by over 100,000 votes as of early Wednesday. Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, positioned himself as a candidate who could appeal to Trump voters by focusing on issues like opposing billionaires and challenging Big Pharma. National Republicans expressed concerns about Paxton’s potential impact in the general election, fearing he could force the party to invest heavily in a traditionally red state. The primary race between Cornyn and Paxton has already cost the GOP nearly $100 million, with both candidates vying for President Trump’s endorsement. Rep. Wesley Hunt(R-Texas) finished far behind in the race. The primary also highlighted challenges for older Democratic incumbents. Redistricting in Texas contributed to GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s loss to state Rep. Steve Toth. In North Carolina, 69-year-old Democratic Rep. Valerie Foushee narrowly leads 32-year-old county commissioner Nida Allam in a race too close to call. A runoff is also likely for Texas Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson, who trails former Rep. Colin Allred by double digits.#john_cornyn #ken_paxton #james_talarico #valerie_foushee #colin_allred
Key Takeaways from First Primaries of 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections Voters are poised to challenge multiple House incumbents in the 2026 midterms, but the Republican Party found some relief as four-term Senator John Cornyn of Texas avoided a decisive defeat in his primary race against Attorney General Ken Paxton. The first round of primary elections highlighted both opportunities and challenges for both parties, with significant implications for the broader political landscape. In Texas, Cornyn’s performance in the Republican primary signaled a potential long battle for the May 26 runoff against Paxton, a conservative figure known for his fiery rhetoric. Cornyn’s strong showing, despite initial expectations of a closer contest, has set the stage for an expensive and contentious primary race. The race for Trump’s endorsement has already drawn heavy spending, with the GOP’s primary campaign costing nearly $100 million. Paxton, meanwhile, faces concerns from national Republicans about his viability in a general election matchup, as his primary victory could force the party to allocate resources to a traditionally red state. The Democratic primary in Texas’ Senate race also revealed tensions, as Rep. Jasmine Crockett accused voters of being “disenfranchised” due to confusion at polling places in Dallas County. Crockett, who trailed state Rep. James Talarico by over 100,000 votes, vowed to sue over the alleged irregularities. Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, positioned himself as a counter to Trump’s policies, emphasizing promises to challenge billionaires and Big Pharma. Despite significant outspending by Talarico’s campaign—$25 million to $5 million in ads—Crockett’s support from former Vice President Kamala Harris, who recorded a robocall praising her as a “fighter,” failed to secure her victory.#kamala_harris #john_cornyn #ken_paxton #james_talarico #julie_johnson
