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This midterm primary election season does not compare to the 2024 primary cycle. The majority of the competitive races were at the statewide level, and many are headed into costly runoffs. However, three House incumbents outright lost their primary race: Rep. Stan Kitzman, Rep. Cecil Bell, and Rep. Chris Turner.
Other highly contested races for GOP incumbents in the House; Reps. Orr and King were able to narrowly defeat their challengers. Rep. Hubert Vo is the only incumbent Democrat headed into a runoff, against Dr. Darlene Breaux, an Alief ISD school board member, after he received 41% of the vote. There will be a minimum of 24 new legislators in the 90th Texas House due to retirements and primary losses. None of this includes the potential for changes in the November General Election.
In the Texas Senate, there are four open seats currently held by Republican senators who are not seeking reelection.
- Rep. Trent Ashby won the nomination to fill Sen. Nichols' seat.
- Rep. David Cook won the nomination to fill Sen. Birdwell's seat.
- Brett Ligon, former DA for Montgomery County, won the nomination to fill Sen. Creighton's seat.
- Rep. Dennis Paul ran unopposed to fill Sen. Middleton's seat.
Trump-endorsed former state Sen. Don Huffines won the GOP primary for Texas comptroller against Abbott-endorsed acting Comptroller Senator Kelly Hancock and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick. Meanwhile, Nate Sheets, Governor Abbott's endorsed candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture, beat Trump-backed incumbent Sid Miller.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick both won their primaries and are seeking their fourth four-year terms in their respective offices. In the Democratic U.S. Senate race, State Representative James Talarico defeated U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and will face the winner of the Republican runoff in the November general election.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Primary runoff election day is May 26, and three statewide races are headed to a very heated runoff.
The last day to register to vote in the 2026 runoff is April 27. Early voting begins May 18 and ends May 22. For more information on the runoff election, click here.
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