Voters across Texas are heading to the polls for a closely watched Republican Senate runoff that could reshape the political landscape in one of America’s longtime conservative strongholds.
The high-profile contest pits Ken Paxton against longtime US Senator John Cornyn in a battle that has exposed growing divisions inside the Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The winner of Tuesday’s runoff will face Democratic candidate James Talarico in the general election.
Political analysts say the race is drawing national attention because Democrats believe Texas may be more competitive than in previous decades, despite Republicans continuing to dominate statewide offices since the 1990s.
Paxton, a close ally of Donald Trump, secured Trump’s endorsement after campaigning heavily on border security, conservative social policies and economic nationalism. Trump praised Paxton on Truth Social while criticizing Cornyn for what he described as insufficient loyalty during difficult political periods.
Paxton has built his campaign around aggressive legal battles involving immigration, border enforcement and major technology companies. He has also promoted cryptocurrency investment and pledged to continue expanding border wall construction along the US-Mexico border.
Cornyn, meanwhile, has positioned himself as a more traditional conservative with decades of Senate experience and strong ties to the Republican establishment in Washington.
Democrats are closely monitoring the outcome because some strategists believe Paxton may face greater challenges in a statewide general election due to past controversies and polarizing political positions.
Texas has remained a Republican stronghold for decades, but demographic shifts, urban growth and increasingly competitive suburban voting patterns have narrowed margins in several recent statewide races.
According to election analysts, Democratic hopes of becoming competitive in Texas rely heavily on increased turnout among younger voters, urban populations and Latino communities.
The runoff is expected to serve as a major test of Trump’s continued influence within the Republican Party as the 2026 midterm election season intensifies.