Texas Senate seat

At least 10 Texas incumbents will not be returning to Congress next term, a high-water mark for turnover in the delegation.

From the Texas battle for U.S. Senate to who's running to be the state's next governor, here are the key races — and candidates — to be watching as we head into 2026.

The former Dallas congressman said he wanted to help his party avoid a runoff. In his campaign to return to the House, he will face U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, his successor in Congress.

Paxton announced Wednesday he has filed the necessary paperwork to enter the 2026 race. The Republican first declared his intentions to run earlier this year.

Critics accuse Cornyn of capitulating to Democrats' gun control demands — even though the bill largely did not restrict gun owner's existing rights.

A former public school teacher, Talarico has emerged as one of Texas Democrats' strongest communicators. He joins Colin Allred and Terry Virts in the primary.

There is a sense that despite 30 years of losing statewide elections in Texas, the coming midterms could be their best chance to break that streak. At a rally in San Antonio, three of the leading Democratic candidates for that nomination came together to promote party unity.

The GOP primary election for U.S. Senate is already shaping up to be a slugfest between incumbent John Cornyn and his challenger, outgoing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Who will President Donald Trump decide to back?

The attorney general positions himself as a disruptor against the Republican establishment embodied in the longtime Senate fixture.

'Our systems in Texas are broken,' he said in an interview with TPR, 'and they're broken because of people like Ted Cruz.'