Polls have closed in Texas, where Republican primary voters decided the outcome of the state's marquee Senate race between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, both Republicans.
The two candidates competed for the GOP nomination in Tuesday's election. President Trump endorsed Paxton just last week, lending significant weight to his campaign ahead of the vote.
Cornyn, who has served three terms in the Senate, sought reelection despite facing a primary challenge from within his own party. Paxton, serving as Texas attorney general since 2015, mounted an aggressive campaign for the seat.
The winner will face Democrat James Talarico, a state lawmaker, in the November general election.
What the Right Is Saying
Paxton's supporters have highlighted his legal battles with the federal government as evidence of his willingness to challenge Democratic policies. His campaign argued that Cornyn, as a Senate minority whip, had not done enough to advance conservative priorities during his tenure.
Trump's endorsement of Paxton late in the race was seen as a significant boost, potentially swaying Republican voters who prioritize loyalty to the former president. Cornyn's allies have emphasized his seniority and committee assignments as assets for Texas in Washington.
What the Left Is Saying
Talarico, who currently serves in the Texas House of Representatives, has positioned his campaign around kitchen-table issues including healthcare and education. His campaign has sought to frame the Republican primary as a contest between two longtime party insiders, arguing neither represents mainstream Texans.
As results come in Tuesday night, Talarico's team is expected to monitor the outcome closely, as the identity of his November opponent could shape his general election strategy significantly.
What the Numbers Show
DecisionDesk HQ is tracking results as they come in from precincts across Texas. The state uses a winner-take-all system for Senate primaries, meaning the candidate with the most votes wins the nomination outright without requiring a runoff.
Full vote counts are expected to be reported throughout Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning as counties process ballots.
The Bottom Line
Tuesday's results will determine which Republican faces Talarico in November. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, making the general election outcome heavily favored for whichever Republican emerges victorious. However, Paxton's Trump endorsement and Cornyn's incumbency have made this race competitive by Texas standards. Vote counts are still being tallied as of publication time.