Texas voters are going to the polls in the 2026 midterm elections, with the closely watched US Senate contest between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico at the centre of the state’s federal races.
The result could have national significance, with Democrats hoping to end a three-decade losing streak in statewide Texas elections while Republicans seek to protect one of their most important political strongholds. The contest is also being closely followed for its potential impact on control of the Senate. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/66df71a7c2bfa962cffd4134ef1a0364))
Paxton, Texas’s attorney general, secured the Republican nomination after defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a hard-fought primary runoff. Talarico, a state representative from Austin, is the Democratic nominee in what has become one of the most competitive Senate races of the midterms. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/66df71a7c2bfa962cffd4134ef1a0364))
The candidates ended their campaigns with final rallies in their political heartlands on Monday. Paxton addressed supporters in Allen, in Collin County, while Talarico appeared before a crowd in Austin as both sides urged supporters to turn out on election day. ([texastribune.org](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/11/02/texas-senate-ken-paxton-james-talarico-2026-election-day-eve/))
Polling stations across Texas are due to close at 7pm local time, with early results expected soon afterwards. Figures reported during the night will remain preliminary until they are reviewed and certified by the Texas secretary of state’s office.
