The 2026 U.S. Senate race in Texas is currently shaping up with competitive primaries in both major parties.
Republican candidates
Current public reporting lists these declared Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. John Cornyn:
- Sen. John Cornyn (incumbent U.S. senator seeking another term)
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
- U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston
These three are expected to face each other in the Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026.
Democratic candidates
On the Democratic side, current coverage highlights:
- U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas
- State Rep. James Talarico of Austin
Jasmine Crockett entered the race after former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred withdrew from the 2026 Senate contest, leaving her and Talarico as the main Democratic contenders so far.
At-a-glance candidate list
Party| Candidate| Current/Recent Role
---|---|---
Republican| John Cornyn| Incumbent U.S. senator from Texas24
Republican| Ken Paxton| Texas attorney general28
Republican| Wesley Hunt| U.S. representative from Houston24
Democrat| Jasmine Crockett| U.S. representative from Dallas2
Democrat| James Talarico| State representative from Austin29
Candidate fields can change as people enter or exit the race, so checking a recent Texas news source or the Texas Secretary of State’s elections page will give the latest official list close to the primary filing deadline.
