Texas voters are heading back to the polls this week for primary runoff elections featuring several high-profile statewide races. As The Texas Newsroom reports, At the top of the Republican ballot is the closely watched U.S. Senate runoff between Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The race pits Cornyn, the establishment conservative four-term incumbent versus the three-term Texas Attorney General, and strongly-aligned MAGA movement candidate, in Paxton. Analysts contend The contest has been seen not only as a bellwether race for the heart of the Republican Party in Texas, but also as a potential predicter for broader national trends. And on this Tuesday, President Trump came out in support of Paxton. “I know Ken well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a WINNER!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Texas voters will also decide runoff races for attorney general. With Paxton out of the picture for the first time in 12 years, the two GOP finalists, Texas State Senator Mayes Middleton and Congressman Chip Roy, are vying for spot as the most conservative, pro-Trump candidate.
The Democratic challengers, meanwhile, State Senator Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, are both angling themselves as the ‘change candidate,’ vowing to clean up what they claim has been Paxton’s service to the GOP political machine, and not the people of Texas.
Other statewide race include lieutenant governor and railroad commissioner. Several congressional and local races are also on the ballot across the state. The winners will move onto the general election on November 3. That’s when Texas voters will make their final decisions, including in the governor’s race between Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa. Early voting is this week and runs through Friday.
