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 about 42% (~910,000 votes), Paxton followed closely with about 40.5% (~879,000). U.S. Rep. 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)
Four-term US Senator from Texas (since 2002). Previously served as Texas Attorney General (1999–2002), Texas Supreme Court Justice (1991–1997), and Bexar County district judge (1984–1990). Trinity University graduate (journalism, 1973); J.D., St. Mary’s University; LL.M., University of Virginia. Former Senate Republican Whip (2013–2019) and chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (2009–2013). Currently sits on the Senate Judiciary, Finance, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations committees.
Texas Attorney General since 2015. Previously served in the Texas House (2003–2013) and Texas Senate (2013–2015). Baylor University graduate (psychology and MBA); University of Virginia School of Law. As AG, leads 4,000+ employees across 38 divisions and founded the office’s Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime section.
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%. State Sen. Joan Huffman (~15%) and former Paxton deputy Aaron Reitz (~14%) were eliminated. Middleton has heavily self-funded the race with roughly $11 million in personal funds.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
Mayes Middleton
39% in March primary (1st place)
Texas State Senator, District 11 (Galveston area), since 2023. Previously served in the Texas House (2019–2023). University of Texas at Austin (BBA, finance) and University of Texas School of Law graduate. President of Middleton Oil Company; also owns ranching, cattle, and farming operations. Former chairman of the Texas Freedom Caucus.
U.S. Congressman, Texas’s 21st District (Central Texas, including parts of north Bexar County), serving a fourth term since 2019. University of Virginia (commerce) and University of Texas School of Law graduate. Former federal prosecutor, former First Assistant Attorney General of Texas under Ken Paxton, and former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz. House Freedom Caucus policy chair.
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 five-candidate field with a tight finish at the top. Incumbent Jim Wright led with about 32.1% and Bo French finished second with about 31.7%. Neither cleared 50%.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
Jim Wright Incumbent
~32.1% in March primary (1st place)
Current Texas Railroad Commissioner since January 2021; currently serves as chair. South Texas rancher from Orange Grove. Built a group of oilfield environmental services companies supporting Texas oil and gas operations. Seeking a second six-year term.
Former chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party (2023–2025); resigned to run for the Railroad Commission. Energy investor raised in Midland; TCU graduate. 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 · Open seat
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. The district was redrawn in the 2025 mid-decade redistricting, shifting it from a heavily Democratic seat to a Republican-leaning one anchored in southeast 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 about 33% and De La Cruz finished second with about 27%. Nine other candidates were eliminated. Notable endorsement split: Lujan has Gov. Greg Abbott’s endorsement; De La Cruz has former President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
John Lujan
~33% in March primary (1st place)
Texas State Representative, House District 118 (south and east San Antonio), since 2021; flipped the historically Democratic seat in a 2021 special election. Born and raised on San Antonio’s south side. Former Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy (5 years), then 25+ years with the San Antonio Fire Department before retiring. Small-business owner. Endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Retired U.S. Air Force veteran with 20 years of service, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Owns a kickboxing gym in San Antonio that he opened in 2018 and uses to mentor local youth. First-time candidate. Brother of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Edinburg). Endorsed by former President Donald 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. Place 3 is open because Judge Bert Richardson is not seeking reelection.
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 in an extremely tight race. Fox finished first with about 31.3% and Smith second with about 30.7%; Brent Coffee and Lesli Fitzpatrick were eliminated. Fewer than a percentage point separated 1st from 2nd.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
Alison Fox
~31.3% in March primary (1st place)
Career appellate attorney. Currently chief of staff and chambers attorney to Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Jesse McClure (Place 6). Previously a staff attorney and research attorney in the Court’s habeas section (2013–2018). Earlier served in the Bexar County District Attorney’s appellate division (2007–2009) and as director of the office’s Conviction Integrity Unit (2018–2021). St. Mary’s University School of Law graduate.
Special Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Justice in the Texas Attorney General’s office since 2015 (under AG Ken Paxton). Previously general counsel to then-state Sen. Paxton (2013–2015) and an attorney at Jones Day (Dallas). Ohio State University School of Law graduate; LL.M., University of Texas. Endorsed by AG Ken Paxton.
South and west Bexar County, plus 16 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 17 counties across southwest Texas. The winner of this Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee 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 fell short of the 50% threshold needed to win outright.
Candidates on the runoff ballot
Marcus Cardenas
44.3% in March primary (1st place)
San Antonio Southside native and small-business owner. Founder of Vertex Concrete, a custom concrete-furniture business; previously worked in his family’s plumbing business. Graduate of South San Antonio High School; attended Palo Alto College. First-time candidate for state office. Endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Retired U.S. Army combat veteran. Schertz resident who ran unsuccessfully for Schertz City Council in 2024. Campaign emphasizes limited-government principles, military-service credentials, and property-rights priorities for the sprawling 17-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.
