The upcoming primary elections allow Texans to choose the Republican and Democratic candidates who will be running for a wide range of government positions in the 2026 midterm elections, with the first item on the ballot being U.S. senator. Front-running Democrats campaigning for the senate seat in the primaries include U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Texas Rep. James Talarico. Front-running Republicans include former Attorney General Ken Paxton, U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, and the incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
Voters may only vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary elections. Unlike other states, Texas does not require voters to choose a political party upon voter registration but rather allows voters to choose which party’s primary election they will participate in on the day they choose to fill out their ballot. Early voting for the primary elections took place from Feb. 17 to Feb. 27 and election day will be Tuesday, March 3.
With electioneering ramping up since the start of the year, the candidates have been campaigning on a wide range of issues important to voters. A Feb. 23 poll on The Retrograde’s Instagram account showed that out of 436 respondents, 46% said immigration was their largest concern, 24% said the economy, 20% said reproductive rights and 10% said education.
The Republicans
Currently, Paxton is the front-runner in the Republican primary elections, leading against Cornyn who has held the senate position for 26 years. Paxton holds a strictly anti-undocumented immigration stance, co-signing an agreement with the Trump administration allowing mass deportations to occur and suing Bexar County for funding legal services for immigration. He also holds an anti-abortion position, using his power as attorney general to sue organizations which mail abortion pills to Texas. He has launched investigations to ensure that cities are following property tax laws.
Similarly, Hunt also holds an anti-undocumented immigration stance, introducing the Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion Act which was later issued by President Donald Trump. Hunt holds a consistent pro-life voting record., but information about his economic stance is limited.
Likewise, the incumbent Cornyn has emphasized support for immigration-enforcement, introduced the ICE Protection Act which will allow further punishment for individuals who resist or assault ICE officials. Cornyn has also previously introduced the Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act which aims to arrest, detain and deport undocumented individuals who obtain DUIs. Cornyn also holds an anti-abortion stance as he introduced the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Lastly, Cornyn has noted reducing taxes on Americans and businesses.
The Democrats
Crockett has supported of immigration policies which expand legal immigration pathways and has expressed discontent with the expansion of ICE detention facilities in Texas. She also holds pro-choice viewpoints, such as support for the now-defunct Roe v. Wade decision. Finally, she has expressed the need for affordability policies centering housing, groceries and healthcare.
Talarico has also stated his position on immigration as expanding pathways to legal immigration, expanding legal pathways for undocumented immigration and holding ICE accountable for crime. Talarico is pro-choice. He has also expressed a unique viewpoint on economic policies focused on increasing taxes on the top 1% in order to increase general affordability.
With the campus split between Collin and Dallas County, UTD will host two separate polling locations for the primary elections. On election day, a limited number of voters registered in Dallas County will be able to vote in the Activity Center Atrium while Collin County voters will be able to vote at Callier Research Center.