James Talarico (D), Ken Paxton (R), and five other candidates are running in the general election for U.S. Senate in Texas on November 3, 2026.
Incumbent John Cornyn (R) lost to Paxton in the Republican primary runoff. As of May 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election Likely Republican. The last Democrat to win election to the U.S. Senate from Texas was Lloyd Bentsen (D) in 1988. In 2024, incumbent Ted Cruz (R) defeated Colin Allred (D) 53.1%–44.6%. In 2020, Cornyn defeated M.J. Hegar (D) 53.5%–43.9%. CNN's Aaron Blake said, "[T]he data suggest Democrats’ chances are as good as — or better than — ever in the last three decades. History and logic suggest it’s still worth being circumspect."[1] As of May 2026, Talarico had raised $40.3 million and Paxton had raised $7.6 million.
Talarico was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2018. He earlier taught middle school language arts in San Antonio. Talarico says he is running because "[t]he people at the top work so hard to keep us angry and divided because our unity is a threat to their wealth and power. So their cable news networks and their social media algorithms tear us apart. ... 2,000 years ago, when the powerful few rigged the system, [Jesus Christ] walked into the seat of power and flipped over the tables of injustice. To those who love our country, to those who love our neighbors: It’s time to start flipping tables.
