U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt are competing to be the Republican nominee come November, with stakes that will be felt across Texas and in Washington.
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
Redrawn to favor GOP, Texas’ 35th Congressional District attracts competitive primaries in both parties
President Donald Trump recently endorsed Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz for the seat Texas Republicans drew at his request. Democrats also see a chance to win in November.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Tony Gonzales heads into Election Day with political future imperiled, Democrats eyeing his district
Both parties are contemplating the notion of Brandon Herrera, a gun-loving YouTuber with a history of provocative comments, as the GOP nominee. Herrera says he can win in November.
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Politics
Kamala Harris makes last-minute pitch for Jasmine Crockett with robocall
The call gives Crockett a jolt of support from one of her party’s biggest stars in the home stretch of her Senate Democratic primary against state Rep. James Talarico.
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Transportation
Lawmakers say U.S. military used laser to take down Border Protection drone in Texas
The Federal Aviation Administration closed more airspace near El Paso in response to the incident, officials said.
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2026 Texas Elections
With his personal life under scrutiny, Ken Paxton’s family defends his character in Senate race
After Sen. John Cornyn ran ads about his rival’s alleged infidelity, Paxton countered with a spot featuring his daughter, who cited her father’s “genuine love for his family” in an op-ed.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Flores vs. Flores: GOP primary for South Texas congressional seat hinges on who can beat the Democrats
Mayra Flores argues her “battle scars” make her the best bet to beat Democrat Vicente Gonzalez. Eric Flores says his opponent is a proven “loser” after back-to-back defeats.
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2026 Texas Elections
How two churches forged Jasmine Crockett’s and James Talarico’s politics
In the Senate Democratic primary, Talarico has made his church’s ethos of compassion central to his campaign, while Jasmine Crockett is tapping into the civic power of Black churches.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Early vote turnout in Texas outpacing past elections, fueled by Democratic primary voters
Turnout during the first week of early voting for the Texas midterm election exceeded the same period for the previous two presidential elections, years that typically see higher voter engagement.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Jasmine Crockett leads James Talarico by double digits in Senate Democratic primary, poll finds
On the Republican side, Ken Paxton and John Cornyn were neck-and-neck and in position for a runoff, according to the poll from the University of Texas’ Texas Politics Project.