Texas’ 2026 Senate race is heating up as candidates crisscross the state, with campaign events in Dallas and Plano on Monday marking the latest flurry of activity ahead of the March primary showdown.
Congressman Wesley Hunt (R-Houston) held a North Texas campaign event in Dallas, positioning himself as a fresh alternative to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in what’s shaping up to be a crowded Republican field that also includes Attorney General Ken Paxton. The primary is widely expected to head to a runoff.
“This is actually about ensuring that we know that the United States Senate is not a retirement community,” Hunt told supporters at the Dallas event. “This is not about really taking shots at anybody. This is more about just elucidating people to the differences that I have and being a very strong conservative, as I have been in the House of Representatives.”
Democratic Contest Takes Shape
On the Democratic side, State Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock) held his own campaign event in Plano on Monday evening. The latest Texas Southern University poll shows Talarico trailing U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett 51-43, with their first debate scheduled for January 24.
But Talarico’s fundraising numbers tell a compelling story. He’s raised nearly $7 million in just the latest quarter, bringing his total war chest to $13 million since launching his Senate bid. Campaign officials point out that 98% of donations were $100 or less, with none coming from corporate PACs — a fact they’ve highlighted to emphasize grassroots support.
Favorability ratings might give Talarico reason for optimism. A Change Research poll shows him with the highest net favorability (+30%) among rated Democratic candidates, while 49% of voters say they would definitely not vote for Crockett — a potential warning sign for her campaign, according to pollsters.
During recent appearances, Talarico has emphasized his legislative record: “I passed the biggest early childhood bill in recent memory, and I passed a major housing bill that’s going to make the dream of home ownership a reality for more Texans,” he told supporters at a San Antonio event earlier this month.
New Faces Enter the Fray
Who’s filling the vacuum left by Crockett’s Senate bid? Dallas Pastor Freddy Haynes of Friendship West Baptist Church launched his campaign for the safely Democratic District 30 House seat being vacated by Crockett with his first campaign event on Monday.
“It’s one thing to be on the outside looking in and talking about how things are. It’s another thing to get in the fight. And I am here to get in the fight and make things happen,” Haynes declared to supporters.
The Republican Senate primary has grown increasingly crowded, with eight candidates now vying for the nomination. Political analysts widely anticipate a May 26 runoff between the top two finishers if no candidate secures a majority in March.
With Crockett currently leading in Democratic primary polls but facing significant challenges, and the Republican field wide open, Texas voters are looking at what could be one of the most consequential and unpredictable Senate races in recent state history — one that could ultimately reshape the balance of power in Washington.
