Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico are running for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas in the November 3, 2026 midterm election. Trump's endorsement helped Paxton earn the Republican nomination over incumbent Senator John Cornyn. A Talarico victory would make Texas elect its first Democratic U.S. senator in more than 30 years.
Where
Texas
When
November 3, 2026
Sources
Reported by 9 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Coming up
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. 2026 U.S. midterm elections (United States)23
Who's involved
Ken PaxtonRepublican Attorney General candidate for U.S. Senate
James TalaricoDemocratic state Rep candidate for U.S. Senate
Donald TrumpPresident who endorsed Paxton
John CornynIncumbent U.S. Senator
The facts
Ken Paxton is the Republican Attorney General running for U.S. Senate.23Stated by 2 sources
James Talarico is a Democratic state Rep running for U.S. Senate.23Stated by 2 sources
Trump endorsed Paxton, helping him earn the Republican nomination.23Stated by 2 sources
Paxton ran against incumbent Senator John Cornyn for the Republican nomination.23Stated by 2 sources
The Republican-controlled Texas House impeached Paxton over corruption allegations.23Stated by 2 sources
Paxton was acquitted following his impeachment.23Stated by 2 sources
A Talarico victory would give Texas its first Democratic U.S. senator in more than 30 years.23Stated by 2 sources
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Government Accountability Institute More than 50 documented threats to election integrity exist ahead of 2026 midterms.1
Peter Schweizer, GAI president America's elections face threats from foreign adversaries, political operatives, dark money, and government officials.1
Eric Eggers, GAI vice president None of the election threats are hypothetical; each is documented.1
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
New YouGov state polls: Democrats ahead in seven Senate races, and a tie in Nebraska
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Multiple North Texas public transit agencies are offering free rides to voters on Election Day, November 3, 2026. Riders must show a valid voter registration card or government-issued ID. The offer applies to DART buses, trains, the Silver Line, GoLink, the Dallas Streetcar, Paratransit Services, Trinity Railway Express, Trinity Metro buses, and STAR Transit services.
DART, transit agency offering free rides; Trenise Winters, EVP and chief operations officer of DART; Trinity Metro, transit agency offering free rides and 1 more
The Dallas Morning News published an op-ed on October 31 by Suzanne Bellsnyder endorsing Democrat Gina Hinojosa without disclosing that Bellsnyder was a paid consultant to Hinojosa's campaign. An editor's note was added November 1 admitting the omission.
$$57,000 for consulting payments
Suzanne Bellsnyder, op-ed author, paid consultant to Gina Hinojosa campaign; Gina Hinojosa, Democrat legislator endorsed in op-ed; The Dallas Morning News, newspaper that published op-ed without disclosure
James Talarico, a U.S. Senate candidate in Texas, praised Frederick Haynes III, a Democratic congressional candidate for Texas' 30th Congressional District, at a get-out-the-vote event on Thursday. Haynes introduced Talarico and spoke at the event as part of Talarico's Clear Eyes Full Hearts tour.
James Talarico, U.S. Senate candidate in Texas; Frederick Haynes III, Democratic congressional candidate for Texas' 30th Congressional District; Jasmine Crockett, Incumbent representative in Texas' 30th Congressional District
El Paso County opened 20 additional Voter Service and Polling Centers ahead of Election Day, bringing the total to 26 locations by Nov. 1. Another 15 will open Nov. 2, for a total of 41 by Election Day on Nov. 3.
Steve Schleiker, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder; El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office, Election administration
An analysis found that candidates pledging to halt data center construction could win gubernatorial elections in as many as 15 of 36 U.S. states holding races. In five states including Texas, both Republican and Democratic candidates favor halting data center construction.
The Information, conducted analysis of candidates' pledges; Politico and Public First Global, conducted poll on candidate support; Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas; suspended data center approvals and 4 more
Two days before the 2026 US midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, polling shows Democrats leading in multiple competitive Senate races and favored to win House control. Republicans made final campaign pushes over the weekend, including Trump rallies in Iowa and Kansas.
Democrats, party; Republicans, party; Donald Trump, U.S. President and Republican campaigner and 3 more
In Texas Congressional District 15, Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz and Democratic candidate Bobby Pulido discussed cost of living and immigration enforcement as voters cast ballots in the race.
Monica De La Cruz, Republican representative in Congressional District 15; Bobby Pulido, Democratic candidate in Congressional District 15
A Media Research Center study found that late-night television shows aired jokes about U.S. Senate candidates from Sept. 8 through Oct. 31, 2026, with 87 percent targeting Republicans and 13 percent targeting Democrats. Fourteen jokes targeted Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running against Democratic state Representative James Talarico for U.S. Senate.
Media Research Center, organization that conducted the study; Ken Paxton, Texas Republican Attorney General running for U.S. Senate; James Talarico, Democratic state Representative running for U.S. Senate and 2 more