It’s one of the most hotly contested races on the March 3 ballot.

HOUSTON — It’s one of the most hotly contested races of this March Primary season — the race for U.S. Senate. 

On the Republican side, incumbent John Cornyn was challenged by both Attorney General Ken Paxton and Houston-area U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Cornyn is campaigning for his fifth six-year term in the U.S. Senate and faces his strongest primary challenge yet. Paxton is leaving his position as Texas Attorney General to run against Cornyn. 

Hunt, a two-term Congressman, gave up his seat in hopes of defeating Cornyn. 

Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will compete in a May runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, State Rep. James Talarico, and Dr. Ahmed R. Hassan are on the Democratic primary ballot.

Throughout the run-up to the primary election, the race has been tight between Crockett and Talarico, with both polling high among potential voters.

Crockett is in her second term in Congress. She served one term in the U.S. House. Talarico has been in the Texas House in 2018.

If no candidate secures 50% of the vote or more, the race will head to a May 26 runoff election.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary in November. 


John Cornyn and Ken Paxton advance to runoff in Republican primary for Texas US Senate seat

By Tomas Beaumont and Will Weissert, Associated Press

Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will compete in a May runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term, and Paxton were the top finishers in a three-way contest Tuesday with Rep. Wesley Hunt. No candidate hit the 50% vote threshold needed to win outright, sending the race to a May 26 runoff.

Cornyn’s campaign and allied super PACs spent heavily on television advertising, much of it criticizing Paxton. Senate Republican leaders, who are backing Cornyn, argue that it will cost more to defend the seat in a general election if Paxton is the nominee.

Paxton was acquitted in impeachment proceedings and has faced accusations of marital infidelity.