The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - May 26, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Well, howdy folks. Today is Tuesday, May 26th, Primary Runoff Election Day, and you're listening to the Texans' Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan senior editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the long-awaited GOP primary runoff for Texas U.S. Senate seat is finally here, pitting President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against 24-year incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn. While the two spent many months vying for Trump's endorsement, Paxton was ultimately the favored candidate on the second day of early voting, May 19th. Whoever wins on Tuesday night will represent the GOP in its electoral battle against the Democratic nominee, state representative James Talariko, who secured a majority over Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in March and thus avoided a runoff. Congressman Wesley Hunt, who came in third place during the primary against Cornyn and Paxton, endorsed the latter shortly.

Starting point is 00:01:03 after Trump announced his support of the Attorney General, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26th. Early voting ran from May 18th to May 22nd. Voters who voted in the Democratic primary in March may not vote in the Republican primary runoff and vice versa. In other news, four candidates are jockeying for position in the runoff elections for the open Texas Attorney General seat, with the Republicans spending heavily to prove their conservative credentials, while Democrats wrangle over the progressive mantle and take aim at the office's outgoing occupant, Attorney General Ken Paxton. Texas Senator Mays Middleton took first place in the March 3rd Republican primary with 39% of the vote, while U.S. Representative Chip Roy landed in second place with 32%.

Starting point is 00:01:52 On the other side of the aisle, state Senator Nathan Johnson fell less than two points shy of winning outright with 48 percent, and will face former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, who took 26 percent, of the March 3rd Democratic primary vote. Although neither President Donald Trump nor Paxton have officially endorsed either candidate, former Republican Attorney General candidate and Paxton affiliate Aaron Wrights endorsed Middleton, and in a recorded off-record comment, Paxton said he would be voting for Middleton. State lawmakers are not required to resign to run for another office, and since Johnson's Texas Senate term does not end until 2029,

Starting point is 00:02:29 he will return to the legislature should he lose his bid for Attorney General. Middleton's Senate term ends at the end of this year, so should he lose the election, he will not be returning. Last but not least, two Democratic and two Republican candidates are heading into their primary runoffs for Texas Congressional District 35, one of the anticipated blue-to-red flips as a result of last year's redistricting. The Democratic Congressional primary runoff has garnered increasing amounts of attention, as sex therapist Marine Galindo has been slammed by national Democrats over allegations of anti-Semitism, and former Bayer County Sheriff's Deputy Johnny Garcia adds to his collection of endorsements. CD-35 was one of the five districts targeted by Texas Republicans for a mid-decade redistricting flip, a move requested by President Donald Trump last year.

Starting point is 00:03:20 The seat, currently held by Congressman Greg Casar, was moved out of Austin to down near San Antonio, flipping it from deeply blue to solidly Republican. Per the Texans' Texas Partisan Index, CD-35 went from a row of, rating of D-77% to R-55% as a result of the 2025 redistricting. State Representative John Lujan came in first during the Republican primary in March, collecting 33% of the vote, while Carlos Dela-Cruz, the brother of Congresswoman Monica Dela-Cruz received 27% in a crowded race of 11 total GOP contenders for CD-35. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News to get full

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The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - May 26, 2026

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