Texas voters returned to the polls Tuesday for the 2026 Republican Primary Runoff Election, deciding several high-profile statewide races along with an important local contest in Terry County. With nearly all precincts reporting statewide, Republican voters selected nominees for U.S. Senate, Attorney General, Railroad Commissioner, and Congressional District 19.
One of the most closely watched races in Texas was the Republican runoff for U.S. Senate. Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated longtime incumbent Senator John Cornyn by a commanding margin. Paxton received 885,949 votes, or 63.8%, compared to Cornyn’s 501,725 votes, or 36.2%.
In Congressional District 19, Tom Sell secured the Republican nomination over Abraham Enriquez. Sell received 32,239 votes, or 64.3%, while Enriquez finished with 17,932 votes, or 35.7%. The District 19 race drew major attention across West Texas, especially regarding agriculture, energy, border security, and rural economic development.
The Republican runoff for Texas Attorney General also drew statewide attention. State Senator Mayes Middleton defeated Congressman Chip Roy with 755,593 votes, or 55.2%, to Roy’s 612,171 votes, or 44.8%. Middleton now advances to the November General Election.
Meanwhile, the Republican runoff for Texas Railroad Commissioner proved to be one of the closest statewide contests of the night. Bo French narrowly defeated incumbent Jim Wright by a margin of just over 14,000 votes statewide. French finished with 663,679 votes, or 50.6%, compared to Wright’s 648,978 votes, or 49.4%.
Locally, Terry County voters decided the Republican runoff for Commissioner Precinct 4. Elvis Rodriguez defeated Michael Dawson with 155 votes to Dawson’s 119 votes.
According to unofficial Terry County results, Rodriguez carried the race through strong early voting numbers. Rodriguez received 99 early in-person votes and 3 ballot-by-mail votes for a combined early total of 102 votes. He added 53 Election Day votes, finishing with 155 total votes.
Dawson received 79 early in-person votes and 2 ballot-by-mail votes for a combined early total of 81 votes. He added 38 Election Day votes, finishing with 119 total votes.
With no Democrat expected on the November ballot for the Precinct 4 seat, Rodriguez is now positioned to become the next Terry County Commissioner for Precinct 4.
Tuesday’s runoff election officially sets the stage for the November 2026 General Election as Republicans now prepare to face Democratic challengers in several statewide races while local candidates begin focusing on the fall campaign season.
