Texas Primary Election Results 2026: Full Winners List, Vote Counts and Key Races

Last updated: March 4, 2026: The Texas primary election results 2026, on March 3, surprised many voters across the state. Instead of clear victories for well-known candidates, several races turned out extremely close and set up dramatic runoffs heading into the next stage of the election cycle.

This guide walks you through what actually happened in the Texas primary election results 2026, who advanced, who won outright, and what it means moving forward. We focus on the biggest statewide contests and key patterns that stood out.

Quick Overview: Texas Primary Election Results 2026

Before diving into the full breakdown, here is a quick snapshot of the most important outcomes from the Texas primary election results 2026:

• U.S. Senate (Republican): No candidate reached 50%, triggering a runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton.

• U.S. Senate (Democratic): James Talarico won the nomination with roughly 53% of the vote.

• Governor (Republican): Greg Abbott secured the nomination easily with more than 80%.

• Governor (Democratic): Gina Hinojosa won the Democratic primary and will face Abbott in November.

• Lieutenant Governor: Dan Patrick won the Republican nomination with a strong majority.

• Next Key Date: The Texas primary runoff election will take place on May 26, 2026.

These early outcomes from the Texas primary election results 2026 set the stage for a competitive runoff election and a closely watched general election later this year.

Texas Primary Election Results 2026: What Actually Happened on Primary Day

Polls closed at 7 p.m. Central Time. Early and mail-in votes came in quickly in most counties. By the early hours of March 4, the main picture was already pretty clear.

Turnout felt decent in the cities—Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio—and stayed typical in smaller towns and rural areas. The real attention went straight to the U.S. Senate race on the Republican side.

Read more: Texas Proposition Results 2026: Full List of Passed and Failed Measures

U.S. Senate Republican Primary – No One Reached 50%

John Cornyn came in first but fell short of an outright win. He finished with roughly 42% of the vote. Ken Paxton was right behind at just under 41%. The gap was so narrow that every late-reporting precinct mattered.

Because neither reached 50%, both men moved to the Texas primary runoff election on May 26, 2026. That runoff will decide who faces the Democratic nominee in November.

This outcome was tighter than most early polls predicted and showed real division inside the Texas GOP.

Democratic U.S. Senate Primary – Clear Winner

On the Democratic side, State Rep. James Talarico pulled off the upset. He defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett by about seven points—roughly 53% to 46%.

Talarico now becomes the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate with no runoff needed. Many people expected Crockett to win based on name recognition and early fundraising, so this result changed the conversation quickly.

Continue Reading: Who Won the Election in Texas 2026: Latest Results, Winners and Vote Counts

Governor’s Race – Abbott Wins Comfortably

Greg Abbott won the Republican nomination for governor very easily. He took more than 80% of the vote against a large field of challengers.

No runoff is required. Abbott will run for a fourth term in November.

On the Democratic side, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa won her primary with around 59–60%. She clearly outpaced the rest of the field and became Abbott’s opponent in the general election.

Lieutenant Governor and Other Statewide Offices

Dan Patrick won his Republican primary for lieutenant governor with a very strong percentage—well over 85%. He faces no serious challenge heading into November.

The attorney general race (open because Ken Paxton ran for Senate) is headed to a Republican runoff. Several other statewide offices also saw runoffs.

U.S. House Races – A Mixed Night

Some Texas congressional districts had competitive primaries. A few incumbents won easily, while others faced very close calls. In newly drawn or open seats, endorsements (especially from former President Trump) made a noticeable difference on the Republican side.

Democrats also had contested races in safely blue districts. Full Texas house primary election results are still being certified in a handful of close contests.

Urban vs Rural Patterns in the Results

The Texas primary election results by county once again showed the familiar divide.

• Harris, Dallas, Travis, and Bexar counties (the big urban areas) gave strong support to Democratic nominees Talarico and Hinojosa.
• Rural counties and smaller cities leaned heavily toward Cornyn/Paxton and Abbott.
• Suburban counties like Tarrant and Collin were competitive but still favoured the Republican incumbents in most cases.

You can find detailed Texas election results map 2026 views on the Texas Secretary of State website or major news outlets that track county-level data.

Official county-level results are certified by the Texas Secretary of State after final verification.

What Voters Also Decided

Besides the top races, many counties had local primaries for judges, sheriffs, commissioners, and school boards. Some areas voted on propositions related to bonds, taxes, or local rules.

These lower-profile Texas ballot results primary election decisions often affect daily life more directly than statewide offices.

Why the Senate Race Felt So Intense

The Republican Senate primary became one of the most expensive in Texas history. Television ads, mail pieces, and online spending were nonstop for months.

Paxton positioned himself as the more conservative choice and attacked Cornyn from the right. Cornyn highlighted his seniority and committee work. The narrow margin shows that both approaches found strong support.

Next Steps – Runoff and General Election Timeline

The Texas primary runoff election takes place May 26, 2026. Early voting begins May 18.

The winners of that Senate runoff, plus the already-nominated candidates for governor and other offices, will face off on November 3, 2026.

Quick Summary Table of Major Outcomes

These Texas primary election winners 2026 so far set the stage for what could be one of the most watched Senate races in the country.

Disclaimer: This article is published for informational and educational purposes only. Election results and percentages mentioned in this guide are based on publicly available reporting and preliminary election data. Official certified results may vary slightly after final verification by election authorities.

The content does not endorse or oppose any political candidate, party, or policy. Readers are encouraged to verify final results through official sources such as the Texas Secretary of State or trusted election reporting outlets.

Conclusion:

The Texas primary election results 2026 reminded everyone how unpredictable even “safe” primaries can become. The May runoff and November general election will decide the final story.

For more Texas news and updates, check out Daily ICT Post.

If this breakdown helped you understand what happened, feel free to leave a quick comment or share it with someone following the races.

Editorial Disclaimer:
This article summarizes publicly available reporting and preliminary election data. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not represent political endorsement.