Texas’ March 3 primaries produced high turnout, major runoff matchups, and a few notable incumbent losses, giving an early look at the political dynamics that could shape both the November general election and the 2027 legislative session.
One of the clearest takeaways was turnout. Early voting set a new statewide record, with more than 2.59 million Texans casting ballots before Election Day. Participation increased in both parties, but Democratic turnout surged the most, with especially strong gains in large metro areas such as Harris and Bexar counties. Overall, the results pointed to an unusually engaged electorate for a midterm cycle and reinforced the growing importance of early voter mobilization in Texas campaigns.
Several of the cycle’s biggest contests remain unsettled, most notably the Republican U.S. Senate runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton and the Republican Attorney General runoff between Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy. Combined with a few notable congressional and House upsets, those races will make the May 26 runoff the next major test of which candidates and political factions are best positioned heading into November.
For a fuller race-by-race breakdown, see the complete summaries from AVDP and Texas Lobby Partners. The AVDP memo provides broader narrative context on turnout, federal and statewide contests, and legislative implications, while the Texas Lobby Partners chart is a reference for runoff races, incumbent losses, and open-seat outcomes