POLITICS

Texas primaries spotlight Cornyn, Paxton amid Iran conflict

PUBLISHED Mar 3, 2026, 7:48 AM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 11

Left 9%

Center 82%

Right 9%

Sources: 11

Dallas — Texas voters held primary elections Tuesday to select party nominees for U.S. Senate, governor and state offices, with incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn facing challengers Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. Republican leaders supported President Trump's strikes on Iran, while Democrats contested the Senate primary between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Rep. James Talarico. Early voting showed stronger Democratic turnout, and heavy advertising—reported at more than $128 million—marked the Senate contest. National and local reporting noted potential runoffs if no candidate secures a majority and highlighted security developments tied to U.S.-Iran hostilities. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Michael Grant | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

U.S.-Iran hostilities escalated over a recent weekend, prompting national focus.
President Trump ordered strikes (Operation Epic Fury); Texas GOP figures publicly supported action.
Campaign rhetoric intensified as Cornyn and Paxton traded criticism ahead of primaries.
Early voting showed differential turnout with some Democratic surge reported before March 3.
March 3 primaries occurred with heavy ad spending and potential runoffs if no majority.

News Intelligence

The Texas primaries can impact your life. They shape who makes decisions about your taxes, rights, and services. If you're a Texan, your vote counts. If you're not, these races can still sway national policy. Keep an eye on the results.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 9

Who Benefited

Campaigns aligned with President Trump and better-funded campaigns benefited from unified messaging and heavy advertising spending, which amplified their reach ahead of primary votes.

Who Impacted

Moderate Republicans and down-ballot GOP candidates risked electoral harm from intra-party divisions and messaging disagreements that could depress unified turnout or force runoffs.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 9
Distribution:: Left 9%, Center 82%, Right 9%

Who Benefited

Campaigns aligned with President Trump and better-funded campaigns benefited from unified messaging and heavy advertising spending, which amplified their reach ahead of primary votes.

Who Impacted

Moderate Republicans and down-ballot GOP candidates risked electoral harm from intra-party divisions and messaging disagreements that could depress unified turnout or force runoffs.