The ballot is now set for Republican and Democratic primary runoffs, where a handful of incumbents who failed to secure at least 50% support in their party’s March primary must now go head-to-head against their closest challengers.

Republican leaders had hoped to avoid a bruising 12-week runoff between U.S. Sen John Cornyn (R-Texas) and his primary challenger Attorney General Ken Paxton, but neither candidate budged before Tuesday’s deadline to take their names off the May 26 runoff ballot.

“I’ll be able to give the attorney general my full and undivided attention, and he’ll be receiving that,” Cornyn said confidently of his runoff prospects before the March 3 race.

GOP leaders were also waiting anxiously to receive a written withdrawal confirmation from U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio), who they’ve pressured to drop his reelection bid after opening an investigation into his affair with a staffer.

Gonzales agreed to stand down on March 5 — a move that should cancel his primary runoff and make 30-year-old gun YouTuber Brandon Herrera the party’s nominee for Texas’ massive 23rd Congressional District.

GOP leaders embrace Brandon Herrera in TX23

Local Democrats, meanwhile, saw several of their officials pushed to primary runoffs, including Bexar County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark, District Clerk Gloria Martinez and Judge Cesar Garcia in County Court at Law No. 10.

The party was waiting for several days after the primary for the final vote count to see who would advance from a close District Clerk race. Martinez will officially face former District Clerk staffer Christine “Chris” Castillo.

Other big races on the May 26 ballot include Republican and Democratic runoffs in San Antonio’s new 35th Congressional District, and a showdown between both parties’ top contenders for an open attorney general seat.

Early voting runs May 18 through May 22 for the May 26 primary runoff.

Read more about the races Republicans and Democrats are still deciding
in the San Antonio Report’s Primary Runoff Voter Guide.

A few reminders about the how the primary runoff works in Texas:

Anyone can vote in the primary runoff, even if they didn’t participate in the March 3 primary.

You don’t have to be registered with a party to vote in the primary or the primary runoff.

Voters who participated in the first round must continue using the same party’s ballot in the runoff. For example, if you selected the Democratic primary ballot for the March 3 primary, you can only vote in Democratic primary runoffs on May 26.

Both parties’ voters use the same polling locations, operated by the county elections department.

The deadline to register to vote in the runoff election is April 27.