The 2026 GOP primary could reshuffle Texas politics

The 2026 state GOP primary promises to reshuffle Texas Republican politics, as new faces emerge and some veterans seek different offices.

- Gromer Jeffers Jr., Tribune News Service

At least three statewide offices are likely to feature a GOP race with an uncertain outcome. Those hotly contested races have already divided the party and pitted some of the state’s top Republicans against each other in a brewing endorsement battle. The 2026 GOP face-lift will have its limits. The state's top officeholders — Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — won't face significant opposition in the primary. The biggest upheaval could be in the marquee US Senate race where state Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging incumbent John Cornyn, who has held the seat since 2003.

Paxton’s candidacy created an opening for attorney general, which now features three formidable contenders. This week, Glenn Hegar leaves his post as Texas comptroller to serve as chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. As a result, a competitive primary is shaping up for that seat. “Paxton has hit his ceiling, and his jumping into the Senate race has created a domino effect,” said Republican political consultant Matthew Langston. “Quite frankly, if you've been in office for several terms, why wait? Why wait for another cycle and hope that another statewide seat opens up?” The drama is only beginning, Langston said, and there could be more surprises before the December deadline to file for the March primaries.