In Tuesday’s Texas major election, many races have nationwide implications and can shed perception into American attitudes one yr into President Donald Trump’s second time period.
Trump has made it clear that he’s maintaining an in depth eye on the first, saying endorsements in choose Home races, whereas staying on the sidelines for essentially the most high-profile one: the Texas Senate race.
Polls shut in Texas at 7 p.m. native time.
Sen. John Cornyn arrives for a press convention in Washington, D.C., Feb. 10, 2026. | Texas Lawyer Basic Ken Paxton arrives for the State of the Union deal with on Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C. | Rep. Wesley Hunt arrives at a marketing campaign occasion, Feb. 16, 2026, in Dallas.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures | Julio Cortez/AP
State significance
Within the high-stakes Texas Senate major, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is looking for his fifth consecutive time period, working in opposition to Texas Lawyer Basic Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (TX-38) in a race that’s more likely to advance to a runoff. On the Democratic aspect, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) is dealing with off in opposition to state Rep. James Talarico, two rising stars within the Democratic occasion who hope to flip the seat for the primary time in many years.
This election additionally marks the second during which redistricting will start to play out. Following Trump’s encouragement final summer season, Texas spearheaded the redistricting wars — triggering a Supreme Court case, sparking nationwide debate over mid-decade gerrymandering, and prompting different states to observe swimsuit.
Now, newly drawn maps are more likely to ship 5 GOP pickups for the Home of Representatives, the place Republicans at present maintain a razor-thin majority.
Rep. Tony Gonzales speaks throughout a Home Homeland Safety Committee listening to, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Samuel Corum/Getty Pictures
Whereas Texas’ twenty third Congressional District is anticipated to remain crimson, the showdown between Trump-endorsed incumbent Rep. Tony Gonzales and Brandon Herrera will likely be one to look at, particularly after a number of Republicans have known as upon Gonzales to resign following an alleged relationship along with his former staffer who died by suicide.
Within the gubernatorial race, Trump-endorsed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is working for his fourth time period in a state the place governors do not need time period limits. The final Democratic governor to symbolize the Lone Star State was the late Ann Richards from 1991 to 1995, however Democrats are gaining confidence in state Rep. Gina Hinojosa.
