AUSTIN, Texas — The battle for Texas’s U.S. Senate seat reached fever pitch this weekend as candidates from both parties delivered closing arguments to voters before Tuesday’s primary election, marking the opening contest of the 2026 midterm election season.
Republican Senator John Cornyn, who has represented Texas since winning his first election in 2002, faces the most challenging campaign of his political career. His primary opponents include Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt, both seeking to unseat the longtime incumbent.
Speaking to supporters at a Houston-area seafood establishment in The Woodlands on Saturday, Cornyn warned against taking anything for granted. “Complacency is a killer,” he told the crowd. “It kills relationships. It kills careers.”
The Democratic Party hasn’t secured a Texas Senate victory since 1988, but party leaders believe this cycle presents a unique opportunity to advance their ambitious goal of regaining Senate control. Their optimism grows particularly strong if Republicans select Paxton, whose appeal among Trump’s base contrasts sharply with his ongoing legal challenges.
Democratic contenders include state Representative James Talarico, who describes himself as a policy expert with bipartisan appeal, and Representative Jasmine Crockett, known for her combative style in Congress. Crockett received a significant boost Friday when former Vice President Kamala Harris announced her endorsement.
Campaign spending has reached unprecedented levels, driven largely by Talarico’s fundraising success and efforts by Cornyn supporters to preserve his lengthy tenure. According to AdImpact, a firm that monitors political advertising, total spending on ads and reserved airtime has surpassed $110 million, setting a new record for Senate primary campaigns.
President Donald Trump’s Friday appearance at the Port of Corpus Christi, where he delivered remarks on energy policy, attracted all leading Republican Senate hopefuls. While Trump indicated he has “pretty much” made his endorsement decision, he stopped short of revealing his choice publicly.
“We have a great attorney general, Ken Paxton. Where’s Ken? Hi, Ken,” Trump remarked during his speech. He continued, “And we have a great senator, John Cornyn. Hi, John.”
Acknowledging the competitive nature of their contest, Trump observed: “Noting that they’re in a ‘little bit of a race,’ it’s going to be an interesting one, right? They’re both great people.”
Paxton, despite his extensive experience in Texas government, has positioned himself as an outsider ready to challenge Washington’s established order while emphasizing his loyalty to Trump.
“I’m not going up to Washington, D.C., to join the swamp club,” Paxton declared at a Fort Worth campaign stop. “I will go up there and fight for you.”
