Elections
Texas 2026 Primary Election: Date, Rules & What to Know
The Texas 2026 congressional primary was held on March 3, 2026. General Election Day is November 3, 2026.
Live on Congress Countdown
See Texas's current congressional delegation
Term end dates, party breakdown, and which seats are on the November ballot.
Texas U.S. Senate Primary — Results
Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the May 26 Republican runoff after a March 3 primary produced no majority.
November nominees
These two face off on November 3, 2026 in a single-winner (majority runoff possible) contest.
Competitive U.S. House Races
Texas has 1 U.S. House district rated a toss-up for 2026 (rating: Cook Political Report (June 2026)). These are among the seats most likely to decide control of the House.
TX-34
Toss-upIncumbent: Vicente Gonzalez (D)
November ballotEric Flores (R) vs Vicente Gonzalez (D)
SourceGeneral Election · November 3, 2026
What's on the Texas 2026 Ballot
U.S. House of Representatives
All U.S. House seats in Texas are on the 2026 ballot. Every House member runs for re-election every two years. View Texas representatives →
U.S. Senate — Class II Seat
Texas's Class II Senate seat is up for election in 2026. The current senator is John Cornyn (R). Class II senators were last elected in 2020 and serve six-year terms.
Texas's Primary System: Partisan Open Primary
Texas holds separate party primaries, but any registered voter may participate — you do not need to be registered with a party. On primary day, you simply request the ballot for the party whose primary you want to vote in.
Runoff Election: Texas may hold a primary runoff on May 26, 2026. A runoff occurs when if no candidate wins a majority (50%+1). The top two candidates from the original primary face each other in the runoff.
Texas 2026 Election Key Dates
| March 3, 2026 | Primary Election (passed) |
| May 26, 2026 | Primary Runoff (passed) — if needed |
| October 2026 | Voter registration deadlines (check your state) |
| November 3, 2026 | General Election |
| January 3, 2027 | 120th Congress convenes |
Voter Registration in Texas
Any registered voter may participate — no party registration required. You may choose which party's primary to vote in on Election Day. Registration deadlines vary — most states require registration 15–30 days before the primary, though some offer same-day registration.
Check your registration status and find your polling place at vote.gov.
See All State Primary Dates
Compare Texas's primary to other states' 2026 schedules.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Texas 2026 U.S. Senate primary?
Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination with 63.8% of the vote, and James Talarico won the Democratic nomination with 52.4%. They advance to the general election on November 3, 2026.
Who is running for U.S. Senate in Texas in November 2026?
The November 3, 2026 ballot features Ken Paxton (R) vs James Talarico (D) for Texas's U.S. Senate seat.
When is the Texas primary election in 2026?
The Texas 2026 congressional primary is March 3, 2026. If no candidate wins the required threshold, a runoff will be held on May 26, 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026.
Can I vote in the Texas primary if I'm not registered with a party?
Any registered voter may participate — no party registration required. You may choose which party's primary to vote in on Election Day.
What is on the Texas 2026 primary ballot?
All U.S. House seats in Texas are on the 2026 primary ballot. Additionally, the U.S. Senate seat (Class II) is up for election. The current senator is John Cornyn (R). Many states also hold primaries for governor and state legislature on the same day.
What type of primary does Texas use?
Texas holds separate party primaries, but any registered voter may participate — you do not need to be registered with a party. On primary day, you simply request the ballot for the party whose primary you want to vote in.
When is the Texas voter registration deadline for the 2026 primary?
Voter registration deadlines vary but are typically 15–30 days before the primary. Check the Texas Secretary of State website or vote.gov for the exact deadline.
When is the Texas general election in 2026?
The 2026 general election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. This date is the same for all 50 states — it is always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.
Which U.S. House races in Texas are competitive in 2026?
Texas has 1 U.S. House district rated a toss-up by Cook Political Report (June 2026). Decided November matchups: TX-34 (Eric Flores (R) vs Vicente Gonzalez (D)).