Capitol Update

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 well-established House incumbents lost their primary race: Rep. Stan Kitzman, Rep. Cecil Bell, and Rep. Chris Turner.

ELECTIONS IN THE TEXAS HOUSE
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 37% of the vote. Several open seats in the House are headed to a runoff:

• HD 41: Julio Salinas, former Capitol staffer, and Victor Seby Haddad, former McAllen city commissioner, seek the Democratic nomination to replace Rep. Bobby Guerra. The Republican race in this district is also headed to a runoff between Gary Groves, an advocate, and Sergio Sanchez, a former prosecutor.
• HD 49: Montserrat Garibay, a bilingual educator, and Kathie Tovo, former Austin City Council member, seek the Democratic nomination to succeed Rep. Gina Hinojosa.
• HD 125: Adrian Reyna, a public-school teacher, and Michelle Barrientes Vela, former constable, seek the Democratic nomination to replace Rep. Ray Lopez. Donovan Rodriguez, former Chief of Staff to Rep. Lopez, came in third place.
• HD 131: Staci Childs, State Board of Education member, and Lawrence Allen, Dr. Allen’s son, are headed into a runoff to succeed Rep. Alma Allen
• HD 126: Kelly Peterson, former District Director for Rep. Sam Harless, and Stan Stanart, seek the Republican nomination to replace Rep. Harless.

In HD 37, Oziel “Ozzie” Ochoa Jr and Esmeralda “Esmi” Cantu Castle are headed into a runoff for the Democratic nomination against Rep. Jaine Lopez. This is a key district Democrats are looking to flip against Rep. Lopez. 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.

ELECTIONS IN THE TEXAS SENATE
In the Texas Senate, there are five open seats currently held by Republican senators who are not seeking reelection.

• Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) won the nomination to fill Sen. Nichols' seat.
• Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) won the nomination to fill Sen. Birdwell's seat.
• Leigh Wambsganss (R-Southlake) won the nomination to fill Sen. Hancock’s seat, but the current incumbent is Democrat Taylor Rehmet.
• Brett Ligon (R-Conroe), former DA for Montgomery County, won the nomination to fill Sen. Creighton's seat.
• Rep. Dennis Paul (R-Pearland) ran unopposed to fill Sen. Middleton's seat.

STATEWIDE ELECTIONS
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. Representative Gina Hinojosa won her primary to challenge Gov. Abbott, while Representative Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Velez are probably headed into a runoff to see who will challenge Lt. Governor Patrick in November.

There was a large amount of campaign activity among the statewide offices. 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. On the Democratic side State Senator Sarah Eckhardt won the nomination for Comptroller, and Clayton Tucker ran unopposed for Commissioner of Agriculture. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Primary runoff election day is May 26, and four statewide races are headed to a very heated runoff.

• Republican nominee for U.S. Senate between Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
• Republican nominee for Attorney General between U.S. Representative Chip Roy and State Senator Mayes Middleton.
• Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commission between Commissioner Jim Wright and Bo French.
• Democratic nominee for Attorney General between Senator Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski.

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.