Cornyn and Crockett Vie for Leadership Roles in Texas Primaries
The Texas primaries, marking the opening salvo of the 2026 midterm elections, showcased a complex interplay between established political figures and emerging challengers, both within the Republican and Democratic parties. The races highlighted internal struggles over the future direction of each party, with incumbents facing unexpected resistance.
Republican Primary: Cornyn Faces Paxton in a Runoff
The Republican primary featured a contentious battle between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Despite consistently supporting former President Trump’s agenda, Cornyn had drawn criticism from the White House for stylistic disagreements, notably his reluctance to echo claims of a stolen 2020 election. Paxton, fully embraced these claims, having sued four states that voted for President Biden.
While Paxton initially appeared to be the frontrunner, benefiting from the axiom that the more Trump-aligned candidate typically prevails in the current GOP landscape, his campaign was plagued by numerous scandals. These included a high-profile divorce stemming from an affair, a dismissed disbarment action, and accusations of bribery from seven former aides, resulting in a $6.6 million settlement paid to four of those aides after their dismissal. Trump did not endorse either candidate.
Cornyn significantly outpaced Paxton in fundraising, raising approximately $69 million compared to Paxton’s $4 million. In a notable move, Cornyn released an attack ad directly addressing Paxton’s personal issues, stating, “It’s voting time, so let’s cut through the bullshit. Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife. She’s divorcing him on Biblical grounds.” Paxton’s campaign responded with an ad featuring his daughter, portraying Cornyn as an aging politician clinging to power.
Still, neither candidate secured a majority of the vote, necessitating a runoff election in May. This outcome suggests that while Republican voters may be open to moving beyond the pre-Trump era, they are not yet ready to embrace Ken Paxton as the alternative.
Democratic Primary: Talarico and Crockett Clash Over Strategy
On the Democratic side, the primary contest pitted State Representative James Talarico, a religious progressive, against Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a more assertive and partisan figure. Talarico emphasized decency and sought to elevate political discourse, attracting attention from figures like Joe Rogan and Barack Obama, who described him as a “really talented young man” possessing “core integrity.”
The primary centered less on ideological differences and more on strategic approaches. Talarico advocated for finding common ground with conservative voters, while Crockett favored a strategy of rallying the Democratic base by clearly opposing opposing viewpoints. Crockett notably referred to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as “Governor Hot Wheels.”
The campaign became increasingly acrimonious, with Crockett’s team removing a reporter from The Atlantic, Elaine Godfrey, from an event, accusing her of being a “top-notch hater” after she published a critical profile of the candidate. The resulting social media exchange between the campaign and its critics dominated the race’s final days.
Texas has not seen a Democrat win a statewide race since 1994.