Skip to main content
2 min read
● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Primary results of 2026 midterms are in for Texas and North Carolina

Paxton will face John Cornyn in a May runoff after neither candidate won a majority in the Texas Republican Senate primary.

Primary results of 2026 midterms are in for Texas and North Carolina
Image · KYMA

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Host credibilityKYMA70/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026

Credibility rates KYMA, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

Republished with credit

Republished from NBC News, with credit to the original publisher.

NBC News85/100 HIGH

284 stories · 85–86 · updated Oct 9, 2026

This is NBC News's own score, and this article is credited to NBC News. The host score in the Source Check is KYMA's.

KYMAvia NBC News
Mar 4, 2026
tl;dr

Voters in Texas and North Carolina chose nominees in several closely watched 2026 Senate and House primaries. John Cornyn and Ken Paxton will face a May runoff, while other results reshaped races that could affect control of Congress.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Ken Paxton R · TX
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Paxton in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Paxton’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Texas Senate candidate in the primary runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican U.S. senator and candidate in the Texas Senate primary runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Texas state representative and Democratic Senate candidate who won the primary

Texas representative who lost the Democratic Senate primary

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President of the United States, whose influence and endorsement are mentioned in connection with the races

Former Republican National Committee chair and Republican Senate candidate in North Carolina

Dan Crenshaw
R · TX-2

Texas representative who lost his House race

Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

North Carolina senator who is retiring

Roy Cooper
D · NC

Former North Carolina governor and Democratic Senate candidate

Steve Toth
R · TX

Texas state representative and House candidate who defeated Dan Crenshaw

Part of a bigger story

26 OUTLETS
Cornyn and Paxton Advance to Texas Senate Runoff

Outlets agree that Ken Paxton and John Cornyn advanced from the Texas Republican Senate primary to a runoff, leaving the nomination undecided. Left-leaning outlets connect Paxton to broader changes in conservative politics and highlight his refusal to leave the race despite Trump's potential intervention. Center outlets emphasize the runoff and uncertainty around Trump's endorsement, with some assessing Republican general-election stakes. Right-leaning outlets focus on Trump's pending choice and its potential effect on the contest, including party unity, campaign costs and competing campaign strategies.

Discussion · 0

What's your take?

Loading comments…