Texas Senate Republican primary heads to a runoff election between Paxton, Cornyn

Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton are headed to a runoff election after neither candidate received over 50% of the vote during Tuesday night's primary for U.S. Senate.

Cornyn held the lead Tuesday night, receiving 43% of the vote, compared to Paxton's 40.5%, according to the Associated Press. Texas GOP Rep. Wesley Hunt finished in third with 12.9% of the vote and did not advance to the runoff.

The runoff election will take place May 26, 2026, and the winner will advance to November's general election, where they will face the winner of the Democratic primary. The Democratic primary has not yet been called.