Johnson succeeded Allred in Congress, but Republican redistricting pushed them into an unusual primary confrontation for the 33rd Congressional District.
Congress
Read the latest Texas Tribune coverage of Congress, from the state’s lawmakers in Washington to key legislation and political debates shaping Texas and the nation.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Democrat Johnny Garcia to face Republican Carlos De La Cruz for redrawn Texas district
The boundaries of the 35th Congressional District in South Central Texas were redrawn in 2025 to favor GOP candidates as requested by President Trump.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn for U.S. Senate GOP nomination
The attorney general’s victory is a crushing blow to the Texas GOP’s old guard, which has faltered in recent years against the Paxton-led insurgent wing.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Tom Sell, Jon Bonck win open GOP primary runoffs for solidly red congressional seats
With their Republican nominations in hand, the two are favored to win their GOP-leaning seats in November to replace outgoing Reps. Jodey Arrington and Wesley Hunt.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Alex Mealer wins GOP nomination for new Houston congressional district, defeating state Rep. Briscoe Cain
The Army veteran was endorsed by President Donald Trump and saw millions in outside spending on her behalf. Cain, meanwhile, was backed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
“The last of the gentlemen Republicans”: John Cornyn’s four-decade political career ends with a MAGA uprising
A former state Supreme Court justice, Texas attorney general and a four-term U.S. senator, Cornyn had held on in the Republican Party as it transformed from the party of Bush, to the Tea Party movement and eventually the dominion of Trump.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Christian Menefee defeats longtime Houston Rep. Al Green in Texas’ new 18th Congressional District
Green’s loss means the Texas House delegation is losing one of its most senior members, who served more than 20 years in Congress.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas’ raucous primary runoffs end today. Here’s what to watch.
John Cornyn is trying to fend off Ken Paxton. Both parties are picking attorney general nominees. And an oil and gas regulatory race has become uncharacteristically costly.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Rallies, ad blitzes and a Trump endorsement: inside the final days of the Cornyn-Paxton runoff
Nearly 14 months and $135 million later, Texas’ blockbuster Republican Senate primary will finally be decided Tuesday.
Posted in
Politics
In Democratic runoff, Reps. Al Green and Christian Menefee clash over influence of big money in politics
The clash embodies the tension for Democrats who rely on large fundraising hauls to remain competitive, even as they denounce the outsized political influence of corporate cash.