The results of the Texas primary elections on March 3rd opened the field for candidates from both parties to head to the general election in November. However, there were contests that were not decided and will go to a second round in May.

In addition to the results, the turnout across the state also stands out.

According to CNN projections, although more votes remain to be counted, more than 2.2 million votes have already been counted in the Democratic primaries for the United States Senate, a close race that was won by state representative James Talarico over Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. This is the highest number of votes in a midterm primary for the party since at least 1970, surpassed only by the 2008 presidential race.

Voter turnout in the Republican primaries was also high. The more than 2.1 million Republican votes represent the party’s largest participation in a midterm primary and currently only trail the presidential campaigns of 2024 and 2016.

However, the Senate race was not decided, so the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will have to face a runoff against Senator John Cornyn.

In the Houston area and Harris County, key races were also undecided, such as District 18, where the incumbent congressman Christian Menefee will have to face Al Green, who, due to changes in District 9, sought to represent District 18 now.

The 9th Congressional District was also decided on the Democratic side, with Leticia Gutierrez obtaining the majority of the votes; on the Republican side, no candidate achieved a majority of the votes to qualify, so there will also be a runoff between Alex Mealer and Briscoe Cain.

Congresswoman Sylvia García for District 29 was at risk of losing her opportunity to compete in the general election, but last night she emerged the winner and will face Martha Fierro.

For Harris County Judge, neither party has a candidate yet; the Republicans did not manage to decide and now Orlando Sánchez and Warren Howell go to the runoff. The Democrats did not manage to decide either and Annise Parker will have to face Letitia Plummer in the May elections.

The race that was decided is the Texas governor; in November we will see state representative Gina Hinojosa face the current governor Greg Abbott, who seeks reelection to a fourth term.

Harris County Judge

Runoff election

Democratic Party: Annise Parker vs. Letitia Plummer

Republican Party: Orlando Sánchez vs. Warren Howell 

Senate

Democratic Party (elected): James Talarico

Runoff election

Republican Party: John Cornyn vs. Ken Paxton

District 18TX

Republican Party: Ronald Dwayne Whitfield

Runoff election

Democratic Party: Christian Menefee vs. Al Green

District 29TX 

Democratic Party: Sylvia Garcia

Republican Party: Martha Fierro