Overview
- State Rep. James Talarico secured the Democratic nomination over Rep. Jasmine Crockett with roughly 52.4% to 46.2%, touting unusually high participation from first-time and crossover voters.
- No Republican cleared 50%, sending Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton to a May 26 runoff that will determine Talarico’s opponent.
- Trump posted that he will endorse in the runoff “soon” and urged the non-endorsed candidate to drop out, calling Talarico an “easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent” and pressing the party to “TOTALLY FOCUS” on November.
- GOP strategists and donors are pressing for a Cornyn endorsement over concerns Paxton’s scandals could jeopardize the seat, even as MAGA figures warn Trump against sidelining Paxton.
- Republicans are already defining Talarico with attacks on past remarks about religion, abortion and gender identity, as the contest enters what trackers describe as a record‑cost phase likely to intensify through the runoff.