Texas will hold its 2026 runoff elections on May 26. The March primaries left many Party nominations are undecided, as no candidates managed to pull more than a 50% vote required to win the majority in several races.
The last day to register to vote was April 27, and early voting will begin May 18 and end May 22. The winners of the runoff election will head to the general election in November.
The most high-profile nomination to be decided by the May runoff elections is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. Key concerns are over immigration and border security, inflation and cost of living, election integrity, jobs and the economy, Second Amendment rights, and violent crime.
At present, Ken Paxton, who is currently the Texas Attorney General, is leading in votes against incumbent John Cornyn. Paxton’s supporters emphasize immigration and border security as the most important policy issues, while Cornyn’s supporters are more concerned with inflation and cost of living.
The winner of the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate will face off against Democratic nominee James Talarico in the November general election.
Other high-profile nominations to be decided by the runoff election include the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, the Democratic and Republican nominees for Attorney General, Republican nominee for Railroad Commissioner, and several Democratic and Republican nominees for House Representatives of various districts.
Of regional interest, these runoff elections will decide the Republican nominee for the Texas 19th Congressional District representative. Incumbent Jodey Arrington has decided not to seek re-election, stating, “I have a firm conviction, much like our founders did, that public service is a lifetime commitment, but public office is and should be a temporary stint in stewardship, not a career.”
Republicans Tom Sell and Abraham Enriquez square off during the runoff elections for a chance to fill Arrington’s position. Sell received 40% of the vote during the March primary, while Enriquez received 19%.
Enriquez, founder and chair of Bienvenido, an organization focused on getting Hispanic young adults involved in politics, is campaigning on his experience in political organizing. He is a supporter of President Donald Trump’s border policies, and wants to “work with President Trump to champion policies that make it easier for American families to thrive - tax relief for parents, support for new moms, and an economy where young couples can afford to build a life together.”
Enriquez’s website lists endorsements from Governor Greg Abbott, Turning Point Action, and the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Meanwhile, Sell, the founder of a law firm, is campaigning on his political and legal experience. His focus is on the interests of West Texas producers, families, and communities. He emphasizes his support of the agriculture industry and feels that during his time as the deputy staff director for the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, he “played a key role in advancing major legislation that strengthened America’s farms, ranchers, and rural communities.”
Sell’s website lists endorsements from various agricultural organizations and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. He has also received endorsements from almost every Republican who ran in the March primary election.
The winner of the Republican nomination for the Texas 19th Congressional District representative will face off against the uncontested Democratic nominee, Kyle Rable, in November.