Six races are on the Bexar County Republican runoff ballot — headlined by the US Senate showdown between incumbent John Cornyn and current Attorney General Ken Paxton. Winners become the Republican nominees for November 2026.
Election Day
Tue., May 26, 2026
Early Voting
May 18–22, 2026
Register by
Apr. 27, 2026
Races on ballot
6 contests
Who can vote in this runoff
You voted in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.
You didn’t vote in either primary in March 2026.
You voted in the Democratic primary in March — you’re locked into the Democratic runoff and cannot cross over.
One of Texas’s two US Senators. Senators serve six-year terms and vote on federal laws, federal judges, cabinet secretaries, and treaties. Each senator represents the entire state of Texas — roughly 30 million people.
Why does it matter?
Confirms every federal judge, Supreme Court justice, and Cabinet secretary — a 6-year window of enormous long-term impact.
Votes on every federal spending bill, every tax bill, and every treaty.
Sits on committees overseeing agencies like the Pentagon, DOJ, and Homeland Security — shaping how they treat Texans.
Brings federal dollars, military installations, and large infrastructure projects to Texas.
Term6 years
Compensation$174,000/year
Next general electionNov. 3, 2026
March 3 primary result
One of the most expensive primary races in American history. Cornyn led with 42% (~910,382 votes), Paxton followed closely with 40.5% (~878,564). Wesley Hunt was eliminated with 13.5%. Neither candidate cleared 50%, forcing this high-stakes runoff.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
John Cornyn Incumbent
42% in March primary (1st place)
US Senator from Texas since 2002. Trinity University graduate (journalism, 1973); St. Mary’s law degree; University of Virginia master’s in law. Previously served as Texas Attorney General (1999–2002) and Texas Supreme Court Justice (1991–1997). Sits on the Senate Judiciary, Finance, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations committees. Former Senate Republican Whip (2013–2019).
Texas Attorney General since 2015. Baylor University graduate (psychology and MBA); University of Virginia law degree. Previously served in the Texas House (2002–2012) and Texas Senate (2012–2014). As AG, leads 4,000+ employees across 38 divisions; founded the state’s Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime section. Campaign positioned as a challenger from the populist right.
Texas’s top lawyer. The Attorney General defends state laws in court, represents state agencies, enforces consumer-protection and open-records laws, prosecutes Medicaid fraud, and collects child support on behalf of Texas families. This is an open seat — Ken Paxton vacated it to run for Senate.
Why does it matter?
Decides which lawsuits Texas joins or files — from voting rights cases to federal regulations.
Runs the Child Support Division for more than 1.5 million Texas families.
Enforces the Texas Public Information Act, the law that lets citizens and journalists see government records.
Represents Texas in every federal case involving the state.
Term4 years
Compensation$153,750/year
Next general electionNov. 3, 2026
March 3 primary result
Four candidates ran. Middleton led with 39%, Roy finished second with 32%. Joan Huffman and Aaron Reitz were eliminated. Middleton has heavily self-funded the race with $10+ million in personal funds.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
Mayes Middleton
39% in March primary (1st place)
Texas State Senator, District 11 (Galveston area). 7th-generation Texan with a UT Austin finance degree and UT law degree. President of Middleton Oil Company; also owns ranching, cattle, and farming operations. Former Texas House member and chairman of the Texas Freedom Caucus. Has self-funded over $10 million into the race.
US Congressman, Texas 21st District (Central Texas, including parts of north Bexar County), serving a fourth term. UVA commerce degree; UT law degree. Former federal prosecutor, former First Assistant Attorney General under Ken Paxton, and former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz. House Freedom Caucus policy chair. Endorsed by Ted Cruz.
Despite the name, the Railroad Commission doesn’t regulate railroads anymore — it regulates oil and gas. The three-member Commission oversees drilling, pipelines, well safety, and environmental protection for the Texas energy industry. Each commissioner serves a six-year term, staggered so one seat comes up every two years.
Why does it matter?
Regulates the #1 energy-producing industry in the country and one of the biggest drivers of the Texas economy.
Oversees pipeline safety — including the natural-gas systems that failed during Winter Storm Uri in 2021.
Sets rules on methane emissions, well abandonment, and water contamination from fracking.
Approves permits that shape where drilling can happen, including near schools, homes, and aquifers.
Term6 years
Compensation$153,750/year
Next general electionNov. 3, 2026
March 3 primary result
A multi-candidate field with an unusual result: challenger French actually outpolled incumbent Wright, finishing first with 33.3% to Wright’s 31.5%. Neither cleared 50%.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
Jim Wright Incumbent
31.5% in March primary (2nd place)
Current Railroad Commissioner (elected 2020). Fifth-generation Texas rancher from Orange Grove. Started working in the energy sector at age 19 and built a group of environmental services companies supporting oil and gas operations. Former rodeo bull rider (20+ years of competition).
Chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party. TCU graduate (history, 1993); grew up in Fort Worth and Midland in a Texas oil family. Founded his own investment firm and worked as an energy trader for a decade. Running a conservative-insurgent campaign focused on grassroots accountability.
Austin to San Antonio corridor (parts of Travis, Hays, Comal, Guadalupe, and Bexar counties) · Republican nominee
What is the position?
One of 435 members of the US House of Representatives. Members vote on federal laws, approve the federal budget, declare war, and oversee federal agencies. CD-35 stretches along the I-35 corridor from Austin down through New Braunfels into northern and eastern Bexar County. This is an open seat — no incumbent is running.
Why does it matter?
Votes on every federal law — from healthcare and immigration to defense and infrastructure funding.
Directs federal dollars to local projects: highways, housing, flood control, veterans’ hospitals, and more.
Sits on committees overseeing federal agencies, giving the district a voice in how agencies treat constituents.
Handles constituent casework — passports, VA benefits, Social Security — for hundreds of thousands of residents.
Term2 years
Compensation$174,000/year
Next general electionNov. 3, 2026
March 3 primary result
An 11-candidate field. Lujan led with 32.5%, De La Cruz finished second with 27.1%. Joshua Cortez and eight other candidates were eliminated. Notable split: Lujan has Governor Abbott’s endorsement; De La Cruz has former President Trump’s endorsement.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
John Lujan
32.5% in March primary (1st place)
Texas State Representative, House District 118 (southeast Bexar County). Born and raised on San Antonio’s south side; 5 years as a Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy, 25+ years with the San Antonio Fire Department. Co-founded Sistema Technologies, an IT firm that grew to 500+ employees. The first Republican to represent a majority-Hispanic South Texas district in recent history. Endorsed by Gov. Abbott.
Retired Air Force veteran with 20 years of military service, including multiple tours in the Middle East (Afghanistan, Iraq) and assignments at Lackland AFB. Co-founded a kickboxing gym in San Antonio mentoring local youth; founded an IT company with 550+ employees. Brother of US Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Edinburg). Endorsed by former President Trump.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in Texas — the final word on every state criminal case, including death-penalty appeals. It has nine judges, each elected statewide to six-year staggered terms. The Court is separate from the Texas Supreme Court, which handles only civil cases.
Why does it matter?
Last court of appeal for every Texas criminal conviction — once it rules, the only remaining option is the US Supreme Court on federal questions.
Automatically reviews every death-penalty case in Texas.
Shapes criminal-procedure law for every prosecutor, defense attorney, and police officer in the state.
Decides which cases deserve a full review — the Court receives thousands of petitions a year and only hears a fraction.
Term6 years
Compensation$168,000/year
Next general electionNov. 3, 2026
March 3 primary result
Four candidates ran. Fox and Smith finished in a near-dead-heat at the top of a four-way field, with Brent Coffee and Lesli Fitzpatrick eliminated. An extremely tight race heading into the runoff.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
Alison Fox
1st place in March primary (4-candidate field)
Chambers attorney at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals with roughly 10 years at the court as staff attorney and research attorney. Previously worked in the Bexar County DA’s Office appellate division (2007–2009) and served as director of the office’s Ethical Disclosure Unit and Conviction Integrity Unit. UT Austin undergraduate; St. Mary’s University law degree.
Assistant Attorney General since 2015 and Special Assistant AG for Criminal Justice. University of Akron graduate (summa cum laude); Ohio State law degree; UT Austin master’s in public affairs. Previously worked in Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate office. Helped write legislation banning sanctuary cities and cracking down on human trafficking.
South and west Bexar County, plus 17 other counties stretching to the border · Republican nominee
What is the position?
One of 31 members of the Texas Senate. State senators serve four-year terms and write state law — setting policy on education, healthcare, the state budget, criminal justice, and more. Texas Senate District 19 is one of the largest geographically in the state, covering much of southwest Texas. The winner of this Republican primary will face incumbent Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) in November.
Why does it matter?
Writes and votes on every state law affecting the district — from school funding to property taxes to water policy.
Chairs or sits on committees that oversee entire state agencies.
Represents border counties and rural West Texas in state budget negotiations.
Can block or advance major statewide bills through Senate procedural rules.
Term4 years
Compensation$7,200/year + per diem
Next general electionNov. 3, 2026
March 3 primary result
Three candidates ran. Cardenas led with 44.3%, Marks Jr. finished second with 32.1%. Adam Salyer was eliminated. Cardenas came close to winning outright but fell short of the 50% threshold.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
Marcus Cardenas
44.3% in March primary (1st place)
South San Antonio native and small-business owner. Co-founder of a family plumbing business; founded Vertex Concrete, a concrete furniture company serving the district for over 10 years. First-time legislative candidate focused on creating jobs, driving economic growth, attracting businesses, and reducing regulatory burdens in SD-19.
Retired US Army veteran and combat veteran. Previously ran for Schertz City Council in 2024. Running on limited-government principles, military-service credentials, and property-rights priorities for the sprawling 18-county district.
Even if you voted in March, confirm your info is current — moves, name changes, and signature updates matter. Registration deadline for this runoff was April 27.
These nonpartisan and media voter guides can help you research the candidates and issues before you vote. We link to them as resources — PlanYourVoteSA does not endorse candidates.
