Super Tuesday Election Results Roll In
The 2026 primary election season is officially underway with Super Tuesday, as states like Texas, North Carolina, and Arkansas hold key races today. The Texas Senate primary is drawing significant national attention, and both Texas and North Carolina are using newly drawn congressional maps, potentially shifting the political landscape. Results are being tracked by the Associated Press.
In the Texas Republican Senate primary, incumbent John Cornyn is facing a significant challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. Recent polling indicates Paxton holds a lead over Cornyn, with Hunt capturing a smaller but notable percentage of the vote, making a May runoff election a distinct possibility. The Democratic Senate primary in Texas is a competitive contest between two of the party's rising figures, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico. The winner will face a tough general election, as a Democrat has not won a statewide office in Texas since 1994. North Carolina's new congressional map, approved in October 2025, is expected to increase the Republican advantage in the state's U.S. House delegation from a 10-4 split to 11-3. Legal challenges claiming the new districts dilute the influence of Black voters were dismissed, allowing the map to be used for the 2026 elections. With Republican Senator Thom Tillis retiring, North Carolina has a marquee open-seat contest. Former two-term Governor Roy Cooper is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, while Donald Trump has endorsed former RNC chair Michael Whatley on the Republican side. In Arkansas, incumbent Republican Senator Tom Cotton is facing two primary challengers, though he is expected to win easily. The Democratic primary for the seat features former farmer Hallie Shoffner and Lewisville Mayor Ethan Dunbar. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is also seeking re-election to a second term. These primaries officially kick off the 2026 midterm elections, which will determine control of the 120th Congress during the second half of President Donald Trump's term. Republicans currently hold a 53-45 majority in the U.S. Senate.
