Why some Texas primary races are headed to runoffs

WASHINGTON — Some Texas primary races will remain undecided until late May after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote, triggering runoff elections under state law.

In Texas, a candidate must win a majority of votes in a party primary to claim the nomination. If no one reaches that threshold, the top two finishers advance to a runoff election. This year’s runoff is scheduled for May 26, with early voting set for May 18–22, according to the Texas Secretary of State.

The system means several high-profile races will continue for two more months. 

One of the most closely watched contests is the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, where incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton advanced to a runoff after neither secured a majority. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt finished third and conceded.

The winner will face Democrat James Talarico, a state representative who defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a competitive Democratic primary. No Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas in more than three decades, but Talarico said after his victory that Democrats are “about to take back Texas.”

Under Texas’ open primary system, voters can choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot in the March primary. However, once voters participate in one party’s primary, they are limited to that party’s runoff if a second round is required. Voters who did not participate in the March primary may vote in either party’s runoff.

Several other races are also headed to runoffs including U.S. House District 33 Democratic primary. This race sees U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson seeking a new district after her current one, District 32, was redistricted to become a Republican majority. It also sees former Senate candidate Colin Allred seek a way back into Congress. A former U.S. Representative himself and a two-time Senate candidate, Allred entered this race after he polled poorly for another Senate campaign.

Of a four-person race, the Republican primary to fill Paxton’s seat has come down to Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy, neither of whom could earn a majority of the vote on Tuesday.

This November, a Democrat will challenge a Republican other than Ken Paxton to become Texas’ Attorney General for the first time in many years.

With this opportunity, several Democratic challengers have come out to vie for the position this March primary: Joe Jaworski, Nathan Johnson and Tony Box.

As of Wednesday morning, state Sen. Johnson will head to a runoff against either Jaworski or Box. 

Runoff elections have long played a major role in Texas politics, often deciding nominations in competitive races where multiple candidates split the vote in the first round.

The winners of the runoff elections will advance to the November general election, where voters may choose candidates from any party regardless of their primary participation earlier in the year.

WFAA’s Paul Wedding contributed to this report.