The Lone Star State is today the epicenter of a seismic fracture within the Republican Party. After an election day of high tension, the projections of the main U.S. media confirm that the Senate candidacy for Texas will be defined in a runoff at the end of May.
Neither the weight of seniority nor the noise of the ultra wing managed to prevail definitively on Tuesday, March 3, in what is known as the kickoff to the midterm elections to be held next November. So the Republicans will go to a runoff in Texas this 2026.
The veteran vs. the “rebel” of the far right
Oh yeah, brilliant strategy. Let’s all pretend John Cornyn is the “most conservative” option… while sitting there with a 54% Liberty Score and an F rating. An F. Not even a gentleman’s flipping C. An F. That’s not a conservative record, that’s the political equivalent of barely… pic.twitter.com/0MS5feJaIp
– Kambree (@KamVTV) March 5, 2026
Incumbent Senator John Cornyn, who has held his seat for more than two decades (since 2002), is seeking a fourth term by banking on stability and his political fangs in Washington.
However, he has run into the most aggressive campaign of his career led by Ken Paxton, the current Texas attorney general and stalwart figure of Governor Greg Abbott.
Paxton, representative of the most radical faction of the party, has focused his speech on the persecution of irregular migration and frontal opposition to the rights of transgender people.
Despite being a highly controversial figure – subject to impeachment by his own party and fingered for alleged corruption and infidelity by his ex-wife – his electoral base remains loyal, preventing Cornyn from achieving the 50% plus one needed to avoid a runoff.
100 million dollars and a silent Trump
🚨BREAKING: It’s official.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced that he will primary incumbent Texas Senator John Cornyn. pic.twitter.com/eci3FiRk8d
– Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 8, 2025
What makes this primary historic is the flow of money.
According to analytics firm AdImpact, nearly $100 million has been burned on advertising alone, making it one of the most expensive internals in U.S. history.
Interestingly, President Donald Trump, who usually tips the scales with a single tweet or mention, has kept a calculated distance.
Although he visited Texas days before the election, he did not give his official “endorsement” to either, leaving the state’s heavyweights to tear each other apart.
The democrat ghost on the horizon
UNREAL – The Democrats have never been more destructive or unhinged. After the runoff, my Democrat opponent will be James Talarico. He wants to abolish ICE. He wants men to play in girl’s sports and to let men undress in the girl’s bathroom. It sounds too crazy to be true, and…
– Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) March 5, 2026
Whoever wins in May will not have a clear path.
The Democratic Party is revitalized and will have as an opponent the young phenomenon James Talarico.
With more than 75% of the votes counted and a razor-thin difference between Cornyn and Paxton, Texas is preparing for three more months of personal attacks, million-dollar spending and polarization that promises to redefine the future of conservatism in the South.
Filed under: Republicans runoff Texas 2026
