Polls have closed in three states in a set of Tuesday primary elections that mark the start of the 2026 midterm cycle — and could highlight internal debates among both Democrats and Republicans over the future of their parties.
The primaries in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas come as Democrats seek to retake the House and Senate, while Republicans vie to hold onto — or possibly expand — their narrow majorities. Republicans are facing historical headwinds as the party that controls the White House traditionally loses ground in the House during midterms, though Democrats are contending with a challenging Senate map this year.
In Texas, incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn is projected to face off against Attorney General Ken Paxton in a GOP Senate runoff in May, after neither candidate cleared 50% of the vote. Cornyn is fighting for a fifth term in the Senate as Paxton questions his conservative credentials. President Trump has not endorsed anybody in the contest.
In the Texas Senate contest, Democrats are also choosing between state Rep. James Talarico and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, both of whom are trying to convince primary voters that they’re capable of being the first Democrat to win a statewide race in Texas since the mid-1990s.
A handful of House districts in Texas also have competitive primaries. GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales is facing a repeat primary challenge from hard-right gun advocate Brandon Herrera that has been shaken up in recent weeks due to an alleged affair between Gonzales and a staffer who later died by suicide. Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw is also trying to fend off a primary challenge from state Rep. Steve Toth.
And on the Democratic side, Tejano musician Bobby Pulido is projected to defeat emergency physician Ada Cuellar for the party’s nomination in the heavily GOP-leaning 15th district, while 11-term incumbent Rep. Al Green is running against newly elected Rep. Christian Menefee in a Houston-area district that was reshaped by last year’s redistricting efforts in Texas.
Meanwhile in North Carolina, former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley won their parties’ Senate nominations, CBS News projected, as the GOP fights to hold onto the seat in what could be one of the country’s most heavily contested Senate primaries. And Republican Laurie Buckhout is projected to face off against vulnerable Democratic Rep. Don Davis in the state’s newly redrawn 1st House district, while Jamie Ager is projected to win the Democratic nomination in the GOP-leaning 11th House district.
In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was running unopposed for the Republican nomination and two Democrats were facing off to take her on.