Voters in El Paso and across Texas are headed to the polls for the state’s primary runoff election.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at voting locations across the county. Early voting results will be released as polls close, and the first round of Election Day results is expected around 8 p.m.
The headline matchup is the Republican U.S. Senate runoff between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Election signage is displayed outside a polling station at The Church on Congress Avenue during the primary election in Austin, Texas, U.S., March 3, 2026. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez
The race between Cornyn and Paxton has been particularly ugly, with both candidates hurling one attack ad after another, but polls have continually shown the attorney general outpacing the incumbent by comfortable margins. Paxton’s campaign gained a last-minute boost with a long-sought-after endorsement from President Donald Trump.
The winner will represent the Republican Party in the November General Election against state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, who has so far made a strong case for turning Texas blue.
Who will face U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar in General Election?
Beyond the U.S. Senate contest, the most significant race in El Paso County is between two Republicans vying to take on U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, in Texas’ congressional District 16.
More: Early voting underway in Texas primary runoff election
The two Republicans in the race are Manuel J. Barraza, a former judge and Democrat who was convicted of wire fraud in 2010, and Adam Bauman, a retired Border Patrol agent and political newcomer.
El Paso judge races
The El Paso Democratic Party primary runoff features two key judgeships.
In the 168th Judicial District contest, attorney Bernardo Cruz will face lawyer Enrique A. Holguin.
In County Court at Law No. 2, attorney Christina Montes will go up against prosecutor Frances M. Maldonado.
Republican runoff races
The following are other contested races on the GOP primary runoff ballot:
Attorney General: Chip Roy; Mayes Middleton
Railroad Commissioner: Bo French; Jim Wright
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3: Thomas Smith; Alison Fox
Democrat runoff races
Democrats will decide the following races in the primary runoff:
Lieutenant Governor: Vikki Godwin; Marcos Isaias Velez
Attorney General: Nathan Johnson; Joe Jaworski
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1: Octavio Dominguez; Denise Butterworth
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 2: Brian J. Haggerty; Christie Saiz
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5: Dora Oaxaca Rivera; Lucilla Lucy Najera
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 6, Place 1: Ruben Lujan; Dora H. Aguirre
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 6, Place 2: Rosalie “Rosie” Dominguez; Enedina “Nina” Serna
What’s on my ballot: Key candidates in Texas’ primary runoff election
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) USA 2026 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, in Grapevine, Texas, U.S., March 28, 2026.
(Daniel Cole, REUTERS)What is a primary election?
A primary election is held to decide which candidates will represent their party in the General Election. If no candidate can garner more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the two top vote-getters go head-to-head in a runoff election to decide who advances to the General Election.
Who can vote in primary runoff?
Voters who cast a ballot in the March 3 primary can only vote in the same primary during the runoff — a voter who voted in the Republican primary in March cannot switch to the Democratic primary for the runoff.
Anyone who did not cast a ballot in the March primary can cast a ballot in either the Republican or Democratic primary runoff.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas primary runoff election 2026 key races for El Paso voters