Texas Senate Race 2026: Who Is on the Ballot, What the Polls Report, and the Dates to Know
Ken Paxton (R), James Talarico (D) and Ted Brown (L) are the certified candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by John Cornyn. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026; early voting in person runs October 19–30. {1,4,6}
- Three candidates are on the certified ballot for U.S. senator from Texas: Ken Paxton (Republican), James Talarico (Democrat) and Ted Brown (Libertarian). Four declared write-in candidates are also certified. [1][2]
- Talarico won the March 3 Democratic primary over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett; Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the May 26 Republican runoff. [8][10]
- The newest poll the Ledger opened, by Emerson College Polling (September 12–14, 2026; 1,000 likely voters; ±3 points), reported Paxton 46%, Talarico 47%. [17]
- Through June 30, 2026, Ken Paxton for Senate reported $9.2 million in receipts and $1.8 million in cash on hand; Talarico for Texas reported $68.6 million and $21.5 million. [14][15]
- Register by October 5; early voting runs October 19–30; on November 3 the candidate with the most votes wins, with no runoff. [4][5][7]
The Texas Senate race on the November 3, 2026 ballot has three certified candidates: Ken Paxton (Republican), James Talarico (Democrat) and Ted Brown (Libertarian). The Texas Secretary of State’s final ballot certification, dated August 28, 2026, prints them in that order. [1] Paxton is the state’s attorney general, and Talarico is a member of the Texas House. [12][13]
They are running for the seat held by Sen. John Cornyn, whose term ends on January 3, 2027. [6] Cornyn sought another term and lost the Republican primary runoff to Paxton on May 26. [10] For the national picture, see the 2026 Senate map.
Who is running for Senate in Texas 2026: the certified ballot
| Candidate | Party on the ballot | Route to the November ballot |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Paxton | Republican (REP) [1] | Finished second in the March 3 primary, then won the May 26 runoff over Sen. John Cornyn [8][10] |
| James Talarico | Democratic (DEM) [1] | Won the March 3 Democratic primary over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett [8][9] |
| Ted Brown | Libertarian (LIB) [1] | Listed in the state’s certification with the Libertarian Party label [1] |
As of September 17, 2026. The certification covers nominees certified by state party chairs and candidates certified by the secretary as filing officer; it shows no independent or Green Party candidate for this office. [1]
The Secretary of State separately certified four declared write-in candidates for U.S. senator: Avery Ayers, Bradford “Brad” Hall, Zul Mohamed and Jade Simmons. That certification, also dated August 28, 2026, cites Section 146.029 of the Texas Election Code. [2]
How the nominees got here: the March 3 primary and the May 26 runoff
In the Democratic primary on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas. Texas Public Radio reported the margin as 53% to 45%, with about 1.3% for a third candidate, Ahmad R. Hassan. [9] The Associated Press called the race shortly before 2 a.m. the next morning, The Texas Tribune reported. [8]
The Republican primary produced no nominee that night: Cornyn and Paxton finished first and second in a field of eight, neither reached 50%, and the two went to a runoff. [8][9] Cornyn had finished 1.5 percentage points ahead in the first round. [10]
Paxton won the May 26 runoff; the Associated Press called the race shortly after 8 p.m. [10] The Texas Newsroom reported the next morning that Paxton had “about 64% of the vote, compared to roughly 35% for Cornyn.” [11] See what a runoff election is for the rule behind it.
Who is Ken Paxton?
Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee, is the 51st attorney general of Texas. [1][12] His official biography says he was elected on November 4, 2014, sworn in on January 5, 2015, and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. [12] He served in the Legislature before that: first elected to the Texas House in 2002, he represented House District 70 for 10 years, and in 2012 he was elected to the Texas Senate from District 8, in Collin and Dallas counties. [12]
His principal campaign committee, Ken Paxton for Senate, registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on April 8, 2025. [14] The Ledger’s profile of Ken Paxton documents his record in office.
Who is James Talarico?
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, is a member of the Texas House of Representatives from Austin. [1][9][10] Texas Legislature Online, the Legislature’s official site, lists him as the representative for House District 50 in the 89th Legislature, a member of the House Administration and Public Education committees, and vice chair of the Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee and of a subcommittee on Academic & Career-Oriented Education. [13]
Texas Public Radio’s primary-night report describes him as “a former San Antonio middle school teacher” who earned a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and says he first won election to the Texas House in 2018. [9] His principal campaign committee, Talarico for Texas, registered with the FEC on September 9, 2025. [15]
Talarico vs. Paxton polls: what the latest releases report
The table lists public polls of the general election whose fieldwork ended between August 13 and September 17, 2026, the five weeks before this review, one per pollster (the most recent). Rows give the published numbers, field dates, sample and stated margin of error. The Ledger does not average polls or project a winner. [17][18][19][20][21][22]
| Pollster (sponsor) | Field dates | Sample | Paxton (R) | Talarico (D) | Stated margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson College Polling [17] | Sept. 12–14, 2026 | 1,000 likely voters | 46% | 47% | ±3 points (credibility interval) |
| ReconMR Texas Poll [18] | Sept. 8–11, 2026 | 614 likely voters | 43% | 49% | ±4.3 points |
| YouGov for Univision News [19] | Aug. 27–Sept. 4, 2026 | 1,000 registered voters | 43% | 48% | ±3.6 points |
| Overton Insights for the Texas Public Policy Foundation [20] | Aug. 24–26, 2026 | 1,167 likely voters | 43.4% | 44.0% | Not stated in the release |
| Texas Public Opinion Research [21] | Aug. 21–24, 2026 | 1,000 likely voters | 42% | 48% | ±3.3 points |
| University of Texas/Texas Politics Project [22] | Aug. 5–13, 2026 | 1,200 registered voters | 39% | 42% | ±2.83 points (3.58 adjusted for weighting) |
Not a complete list: polls whose release would not open for the Ledger’s document reader are left out. Remaining answers: Emerson, Ted Brown 2%, undecided 4% [17]; ReconMR, someone else 3%, would not vote 1%, don’t know or refused 4% [18]; Overton, undecided 12.6% [20]; Texas Public Opinion Research, undecided 7% [21]; University of Texas, Ted Brown 3%, someone else 1%, no opinion yet 14% [22]; Univision, not captured in the Ledger’s reading [19].
Four of these polls sampled likely voters and two sampled registered voters. Methods differ: Emerson reports text-to-web contact with a voter panel; ReconMR, landline, cell phone and text-to-web; YouGov and Overton, online questionnaires. [17][18][19][20] The Texas Public Policy Foundation sponsored Overton’s poll, and Texas Public Opinion Research describes itself as “a nonpartisan polling initiative.” [20][21]
Campaign money: what the FEC committee pages show
As of September 17, 2026, the FEC’s pages for the Republican and Democratic nominees’ principal campaign committees show totals through June 30, 2026. [14][15]
| Committee (FEC ID) | Coverage dates | Total receipts | Total disbursements | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Paxton for Senate (C00901918) [14] | Apr. 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 | $9,240,577.51 | $7,485,283.04 | $1,755,294.47 |
| Talarico for Texas (C00919084) [15] | Sept. 8, 2025–June 30, 2026 | $68,555,930.42 | $47,007,775.34 | $21,548,155.08 |
Each page showed $0.00 in debts owed by the committee. The figures cover these two committees only, not parties, PACs or other groups. [14][15]
Both committees are quarterly filers. [14][15] The October quarterly report, which closes its books on September 30, is due on October 15, 2026, four days before early voting begins. [4][16] The FEC’s calendar adds that a candidate’s principal campaign committee in the general election must also file pre- and post-general election reports; House and Senate committees report on Form 3. [16] For the rules on giving, see the 2025–2026 contribution limits and PAC vs. super PAC.
What elections are coming up in Texas 2026?
Beyond the Senate race, the Secretary of State’s certification for November 3 lists U.S. representative, governor and six other statewide executive offices, seats on the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals, state senators, state representatives and State Board of Education members. [1] For governor it lists Greg Abbott (REP), Gina Hinojosa (DEM) and Pat Dixon (LIB); see who is running for governor in 2026. [1] The Secretary of State also lists two special elections that day, in Texas Senate District 22 and House District 93. [3]
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Monday, October 5, 2026 | Last day to register to vote [4] |
| Monday, October 19, 2026 | First day of early voting in person [4][5] |
| Friday, October 23, 2026 | Last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) [4] |
| Friday, October 30, 2026 | Last day of early voting in person [4][5] |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | Election Day; a ballot by mail that is not postmarked must be received by 7:00 p.m. [4] |
| Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. deadline to receive a ballot by mail whose carrier envelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m. at the location of the election on Election Day; the state’s page notes that overseas and military voter deadlines differ [4] |
Dates as printed on the Secretary of State’s Important Election Dates page; confirm your own deadline with your county elections office. The Texas voting guide covers voter ID, who may vote by mail, and the official lookups. [4]
Any registered voter may vote early in person at any early voting location in their county of registration. [5] For other states, see when early voting starts in 2026 and what elections are coming up in November 2026.
How the winner is decided
The Texas Election Code’s general rule for the November election is a plurality: the candidate with the most votes wins, with no runoff, unless another law requires a majority. [7]
“Except as otherwise provided by law, to be elected to a public office, a candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate for the office.”
Texas Election Code, Sec. 2.001, Plurality Vote Required [7]
See what a U.S. senator does for the office itself.
Questions and answers
Who is running for Senate in Texas 2026?
Who is James Talarico?
What do the latest Talarico vs. Paxton polls show?
The two newest releases the Ledger opened are Emerson College Polling (September 12–14, 2026; 1,000 likely voters; ±3 points), which reported Paxton 46% and Talarico 47%, and the ReconMR Texas Poll (September 8–11, 2026; 614 likely voters; ±4.3 points), which reported Paxton 43% and Talarico 49%. [17][18]
Which James Talarico polls sampled registered voters?
Two of the six in the Ledger’s table. YouGov for Univision News (August 27–September 4, 2026; 1,000 registered voters; ±3.6 points) reported Paxton 43%, Talarico 48%. The University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll (August 5–13, 2026; 1,200 registered voters; ±2.83 points) reported Paxton 39%, Talarico 42%, with 14% not yet holding an opinion. [19][22]
What elections are coming up in Texas 2026?
The November 3, 2026 general election covers U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor and the other statewide executive offices, seats on the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Legislature and the State Board of Education, plus special elections in Senate District 22 and House District 93. Registration closes October 5, and early voting runs October 19–30. [1][3][4]
Sources
Statutes, election offices and official records anchor this explainer. Numbered references in the text link here.
- 01Ballot Certification Report: 2026 November General Election, November 03, 2026Texas Secretary of State · Aug. 28, 2026
The state’s final certification of candidates for the November 3, 2026 general election, signed by Deputy Secretary of State Dave Nelson on August 28, 2026. Under U.S. Senator it prints Ken Paxton (REP), James Talarico (DEM) and Ted Brown (LIB), and it lists the other statewide and district offices on the ballot.Government / regulatory record - 02Write-In Candidates Certification: November 3, 2026 General ElectionTexas Secretary of State · Aug. 28, 2026
Certification under Election Code Section 146.029 of declared write-in candidates. For U.S. Senator: Avery Ayers, Bradford “Brad” Hall, Zul Mohamed and Jade Simmons.Government / regulatory record - 03Current Elections Information ListTexas Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
The Secretary of State’s page for the November 3, 2026 general election and the same-day special elections for Senate District 22 and House District 93; it links to the ballot certification, the write-in certification and the sample ballot.Government / regulatory record - 04Important Election DatesTexas Secretary of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Dates for the November 3, 2026 uniform election date: registration deadline, early voting period, ballot-by-mail application deadline (received, not postmarked) and ballot-by-mail receipt deadlines.Government / regulatory record - 05Early Voting FAQs | VoteTexas.govTexas Secretary of State (VoteTexas.gov) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
States the early voting period for the November 3, 2026 election (October 19–30), that any registered voter may vote early in person, and that a voter may use any early voting location in the county of registration.Government / regulatory record - 06Class II - Senators Whose Terms of Service Expire in 2027U.S. Senate · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Lists John Cornyn (R-TX) among the Class II senators and states that Class II terms run to the end of the 119th Congress on January 3, 2027.Government / regulatory record - 07TX Elec Code § 2.001 (2025): Plurality Vote RequiredJustia (2025 Texas Statutes) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Text of Texas Election Code Section 2.001. Cited from Justia because the state’s own statutes site returned only its navigation page to the Ledger’s document reader on September 17, 2026.Independent analysis / professional record - 08James Talarico defeats Jasmine Crockett in blockbuster Democratic primary for U.S. SenateThe Texas Tribune · Mar. 3, 2026
Primary-night report (updated March 4, 2026): Talarico won the Democratic primary, the AP called the race shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday, and Paxton and Cornyn advanced to a May runoff after leading a field of eight without reaching 50%.Independent reporting - 09Talarico defeats Crockett in Texas Democratic primary for U.S. SenateTexas Public Radio / Houston Public Media · Mar. 4, 2026
Report by Andrew Schneider (updated March 8, 2026) giving the Democratic primary result as 53% to 45%, about 1.3% for Ahmad R. Hassan, the Republican runoff, and background on Talarico.Independent reporting - 10Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn for U.S. Senate GOP nominationThe Texas Tribune · May 26, 2026
Runoff-night report: Paxton won the Republican primary runoff, the AP called the race shortly after 8 p.m., Cornyn had led the first round by 1.5 percentage points, and the general election matchup is Paxton against Talarico.Independent reporting - 11Texas runoff results: Paxton wins GOP U.S. Senate nomination, plus other key statewide race resultsKERA News / The Texas Newsroom · May 26, 2026
Report by Lucio Vasquez, updated May 27, 2026 at 11:27 a.m. CDT, with the runoff vote shares as of 6 a.m. that day: about 64% for Paxton and roughly 35% for Cornyn.Independent reporting - 12About the Attorney GeneralOffice of the Attorney General of Texas · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Official biography: 51st attorney general; elected November 4, 2014; sworn in January 5, 2015; re-elected in 2018 and 2022; earlier service for House District 70 and Senate District 8.Government / regulatory record - 13Texas Legislature Online: Member information, Rep. James Talarico (89th Legislature)Texas Legislature Online (capitol.texas.gov) · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
The Legislature’s member page: House District 50, committee assignments in the 89th Legislature, and links to the bills he authored, sponsored and coauthored in each session.Government / regulatory record - 14KEN PAXTON FOR SENATE (C00901918): committee overviewFederal Election Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Principal campaign committee of Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr.; registered April 8, 2025; quarterly Senate filer; 2025–2026 totals for April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 as displayed on September 17, 2026.Government / regulatory record - 15TALARICO FOR TEXAS (C00919084): committee overviewFederal Election Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Principal campaign committee of James Talarico; registered September 9, 2025; quarterly Senate filer; 2025–2026 totals for September 8, 2025 to June 30, 2026 as displayed on September 17, 2026.Government / regulatory record - 162026 Quarterly filers (Dates and deadlines)Federal Election Commission · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Quarterly reporting calendar: the October quarterly report closes its books on September 30, 2026 and is due October 15, 2026; House and Senate committees file Form 3; general-election candidates’ principal campaign committees also file pre- and post-general reports.Government / regulatory record - 17Texas 2026 Poll: Talarico and Paxton in Dead Heat, Abbott Maintains EdgeEmerson College Polling · Sep. 17, 2026
Pollster’s release: survey of September 12–14, 2026; 1,000 likely voters; credibility interval of +/- 3 percent; Talarico 47%, Paxton 46%, Ted Brown 2%, undecided 4%.Independent analysis / professional record - 18The ReconMR Texas Poll, September 8–11, 2026 (crosstabs)ReconMR · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Pollster’s crosstab document: 614 likely Texas voters, margin of error +/- 4.3%; in the table naming the candidates, Ken Paxton 43%, James Talarico 49%, someone else 3%, would not vote 1%, don’t know or refused 4%.Independent analysis / professional record - 19This Is What Texas Voters Think Looking Ahead to 2026Univision News (poll conducted by YouGov) · Sep. 9, 2026
Sponsor’s report of its YouGov poll: interviews August 27–September 4, 2026 among 1,000 Texas registered voters, margin of error about +/- 3.6 points statewide; Talarico 48%, Paxton 43%.Independent reporting - 20Overton Insights/Texas Public Policy Foundation: Texas Toplines and Demographic VariablesOverton Insights · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Pollster’s topline document: August 24–26, 2026; n=1,167 likely voters; self-administered online questionnaire; sponsored by the Texas Public Policy Foundation; Paxton 43.4%, Talarico 44.0%, undecided 12.6%; no margin of error stated.Independent analysis / professional record - 21New Poll: In Texas General Election, Talarico Leads Paxton by Six Points; Abbott Leads Hinojosa by Seven PointsTexas Public Opinion Research · Aug. 27, 2026
Pollster’s release: 1,000 likely Texas voters, August 21–24, 2026, margin of error ±3.3 points; Talarico 48%, Paxton 42%, 7% undecided; the organization’s description of itself.Independent analysis / professional record - 22University of Texas / Texas Politics Project Poll: Texas Statewide Survey (August 2026 topline)Texas Politics Project, University of Texas at Austin · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Pollster’s topline document: field dates August 5–13, 2026; N=1200 registered voters; margin of error +/- 2.83% (3.58% adjusted for weighting); Q19: Paxton 39%, Talarico 42%, Ted Brown 3%, someone else 1%, no opinion yet 14%.Independent analysis / professional record
Reviewed . This explainer is general civic information, not legal advice. Election rules change; the official page linked beside each rule is the authority, and the date above is when those pages were last read.