Texas Senate Race 2026

Compare candidates running in this Texas federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

James Talarico

Party: Democrat

Ken Paxton

Party: Republican

John Cornyn

Party: Republican

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Texas Senate Race

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
safe r— Cook Political Report (Texas isn't initially a top Democratic target but cited as one of few opportunities)

Texas is reliably Republican—Trump won by 14 points in 2024 and Democrats haven't won statewide since 1994—but the race could reflect broader dynamics. A Cornyn loss in the GOP primary to Paxton could weaken Republicans if Paxton's legal scandals and controversies make the general election more competitive than expected. The Republican Party's establishment backing Cornyn while the MAGA base supports Paxton reveals internal GOP divides that may matter in future elections.

James TalaricoD
Ken PaxtonR
John CornynR

Summary

James Talarico is a Texas state representative (District 50, since 2018) and Presbyterian seminarian running as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. He is a former middle school teacher and has championed progressive causes including gun control, abortion rights, voting rights, and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Talarico won the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026, defeating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. He will face the winner of the GOP runoff (Cornyn or Paxton) in the November general election. He is 36 years old and emphasizes anti-corruption and populist messaging.

Ken Paxton is the three-term Texas Attorney General (2015-present) challenging incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 GOP primary. Paxton is a hardline conservative who has sued the Obama and Biden administrations over environmental regulations, immigration, election fraud claims, and other issues. He is a Trump ally who led the failed Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit attempting to overturn the 2020 election and spoke at the January 6 rally. Paxton has survived impeachment, a whistleblower scandal, securities fraud charges (settled in 2024 with community service), and a divorce.

Four-term U.S. Senator John Cornyn (born February 2, 1952) is running for a fifth term. He previously served as Texas District Judge, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Texas Attorney General. During his Senate tenure, he served as Senate Republican Whip (2013-2019) and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair (2009-2013). He has been instrumental in confirming Trump's judicial nominees and claims a 99.2% voting record with Trump.

View James Talarico's Full Profile →View Ken Paxton's Full Profile →View John Cornyn's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Other
  • Fight corruption and take on billionaire mega-donors
  • Gun control and increased public safety
  • Protect abortion rights and reproductive freedom
  • Restore America's global leadership and trade fairness
Immigration
  • Pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
Education
  • Increase education funding and support teachers
Other
  • Bring new, hardline conservative leadership to Senate
  • Defend Second Amendment against gun control
  • Fight corruption and drain the swamp
  • Support Trump and MAGA agenda
Immigration
  • Secure southern border and stop illegal immigration
Defense
  • Support Trump's agenda and judicial philosophy
Other
  • Protect Second Amendment and gun rights
Economy
  • Cut government spending and reduce national debt

Key Issue Positions

Anti-corruption
Central campaign message: fighting billionaire mega-donors and rigged system
Talarico emphasizes populist framing of politics as 'top vs. bottom,' not partisan divides.
Gun control
Supports gun control as moral and safety issue
Talarico has framed gun control through Christian faith lens; contrasts with Cornyn's gun safety bill compromise.
Abortion rights
Strong support for abortion access and reproductive freedom
Talarico frames abortion as faith-based social justice issue; supports pathway without restrictions.
Immigration
Supports pathway to citizenship and immigrant rights
Talarico advocates for 'secure, timely' pathway and opposes Trump administration immigration enforcement.
Conservative purity test
Criticizes Cornyn as RINO (Republican In Name Only) and compromise-focused
Paxton positions himself as true conservative uncompromised by institutional pressures.
Trump loyalty
Strong Trump ally; led TX v. Pennsylvania lawsuit, spoke at January 6 rally
Paxton argues he has been more loyal to Trump than Cornyn, who he says made critical comments about Trump.
Gun rights
Opposes gun control; attacked Cornyn's 2022 gun safety bill
Paxton claims Cornyn 'wrote the blueprint for Biden's gun control agenda.'
Election integrity
Pushed baseless claims of election fraud in 2020
Led Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit, promoted election fraud narratives without evidence.
Gun Rights
Mixed: Claims strong Second Amendment defense but negotiated/voted for Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022
A+ NRA rating but led effort on gun safety bill that Trump and conservatives opposed.
Border Security
Strong advocate for enforcement and wall funding
Secured $13.5B border reimbursement in One Big Beautiful Bill; introduced multiple immigration enforcement bills in 2025-2026.
Trump Support
Claims 99.2% voting alignment but criticized for past rhetorical distance
Voted to acquit Trump twice; supported judges and tax cuts; but made critical comments in 2023 about Trump's indictment.
Fiscal Policy
Fiscally conservative; opposed Biden-Harris spending
Supported One Big Beautiful Bill as alternative to 'largest tax hike in history'; advocates for work requirements and spending cuts.

Top Donors

Individual small donors
$20.7M+ by Feb 11, 2026Small donor (<$100)
98% of donations were $100 or less; strong grassroots fundraising
No corporate PACs
0%None
Talarico explicitly stated no corporate PAC support
Tim Dunn (West Texas oil billionaire)
Historically major, but withdrew support in 2025Individual
Paxton's most loyal donor walked away, signal of doubt
Trump-aligned donors and small donors
Estimated significant from MAGA baseIndividual/Small donor
Paxton appeals to Trump movement
Apollo Global Management
$137,900Individual/Corporate
Top contributor as of early 2026
R Senate PAC (Leadership PAC)
SignificantLeadership PAC
Cornyn's own PAC for supporting candidates
Large Individual Contributions
42.03% of totalIndividual
Cornyn raised $11.2 million by Feb 11, 2026
Lone Star Freedom Project (Super PAC)
$60,000,000+Super PAC
Satellite group supporting Cornyn; spent $18M+ by Feb 2026

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Paxton says Cornyn has been insufficient on border security and immigration
Contradiction: Cornyn has consistently advocated for border security and helped secure $13.5B border reimbursement in One Big Beautiful Bill; he is Chairman of Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security
Claim: Strong Second Amendment defender with A+ NRA rating
Contradiction: Led negotiations on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, gun safety bill Trump opposed as first step to 'taking guns away'
Claim: Cornyn said past rhetoric distancing from Trump was overblown; emphasizes 99.2% voting record
Contradiction: Made 2023 comments questioning Trump's viability and 2020 comments questioning Trump support; critics cite inconsistency between rhetoric and voting record

What Opponents Say

John Cornyn (potential)

Talarico lacks mainstream appeal; leads Democrats only in competitive matchups against Paxton

Polling shows Cornyn leads Talarico by 3%, while Paxton is tied with Talarico

Republican opponents

Talarico is radical on gun control and abortion

Expected GOP attacks on progressive positions

John Cornyn

Paxton is 'laden down by legal and personal baggage' that would cost Republicans the seat in general election

Cornyn campaign emphasized scandals, impeachment, securities fraud case, whistleblower settlement, and divorce

National Republican Senatorial Committee

Paxton's 'liabilities would require substantial spending to defend the seat,' money better used elsewhere

Senate GOP leadership backed Cornyn, warning Paxton would be weaker general election candidate

Cornyn campaign

'Hard to run from prison, Ken' (referencing legal troubles)

Cornyn's response to Paxton's attacks on his record

Ken Paxton

Cornyn has 'turned his back on President Trump' through past critical comments and gun control vote

Paxton cited 2023 comments about Trump indictment and 2020 comments suggesting Trump couldn't win

Wesley Hunt

Cornyn 'sold Texans out' on gun rights and should be replaced by younger leadership

Hunt emphasized age difference (74 vs 44) and Trump's preference for younger cabinet members

Chris McNutt, Texas Gun Rights

Cornyn 'wrote the blueprint for Biden's gun control agenda'

Criticized 2022 gun safety bill and called Cornyn's support 'unprincipled'

James Talarico, Democratic nominee

Cornyn supported a government shutdown funding deal that didn't guarantee ACA subsidies protection

Talarico said deal 'sells out working people and their health care'

Endorsements

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM)individual
Multiple Texas Democratic state representativesindividual
Houston Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegrammedia
Donald Trumpindividual
Turning Point USA (Charlie Kirk organization)organization
MAGA movement/Trump basegrassroots
Senate Majority Leader John Thuneindividual
National Border Patrol Councilorganization
Senate GOP Leadership (NRSC, Senate Leadership Fund)organization