The march to the US midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress for the second half of Donald Trump’s presidency, is officially under way. Voters in several states went to the polls on Tuesday to select Democratic and Republican candidates for the November general election, with Texas drawing the most attention due to its contested US Senate races.
Democratic Contest: Talarico Prevails
State representative James Talarico defeated Dallas-based Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett to secure the Democratic nomination. Talarico, who emphasized unity and reclaiming religious values from the evangelical right, carried suburban and Hispanic-majority areas, while Crockett performed strongly in urban centers such as Dallas and Houston.
Talarico’s victory reflects Democrats’ preference for a big-tent candidate capable of appealing to disaffected Republicans and diverse voter blocs. His campaign message of “taking back Texas” resonated with voters seeking a more inclusive approach.
Republican Race Heads to Run-Off
The Republican primary was inconclusive, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent US Senator John Cornyn both finishing below the 50% threshold required to avoid a run-off. The two will face each other again on May 26.
Cornyn, a long-serving senator, faced a surprisingly strong challenge from Paxton, who has positioned himself as a Trump-aligned insurgent despite past controversies, including impeachment proceedings and personal scandals. The run-off sets up a high-stakes battle between establishment conservatism and populist insurgency.
Voting Difficulties in Dallas County
The primaries also exposed challenges in Texas’s voting systems. Republican-backed changes requiring voters to cast ballots in designated precincts led to widespread confusion in Dallas County, prompting a judge to extend polling hours. The Texas Supreme Court later intervened, ordering ballots cast after closing time to be counted separately.
Democrats criticized the changes as voter suppression, with Crockett calling the situation disenfranchisement targeted at urban voters.
Democratic Engagement Rising
For the first time since 2020, more Democrats cast early ballots in a March primary than Republicans, including 400,000 first-time Democratic primary voters. Party strategists see this as a sign of renewed energy, though Texas remains a Republican stronghold, with Trump winning the state by 14 points in 2024.
Foreign Policy Impact Minimal for Now
The US military’s joint strikes with Israel against Iran, launched just days before the primaries, did not significantly influence voter behavior. Domestic issues such as the economy, housing, and childcare costs dominated voter concerns. Analysts caution, however, that rising fuel prices linked to the conflict could become a political issue in the months ahead.
