U.S. Senate

“There is a deep hunger in this state and in this country for a different kind of politics,” said Texas House Rep. James Talarico at a rally in Round Rock Tuesday evening, just hours after the Austin Democrat announced his candidacy for Texas’ 2026 U.S. Senate race.

The Democrat's district covers North Austin, but he’s gained nationwide support through Instagram and TikTok. Clips of Talarico condemning Republican policies have gone viral on both platforms, where he’s amassed 1.2 million followers.

The Austin Democrat has made a name for himself with his viral social media presence. His entry to the race pits him against former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred in the increasingly crowded primary.

President Trump signed a massive tax and spending bill to implement much of his domestic agenda during a celebration for the Fourth of July.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in most polls in the Republican Senate primary. But a recent poll on the 2026 general election shows former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, within striking distance of beating Paxton if he ends up being the GOP candidate.

Cornyn has represented Texas in Congress for more than two decades. He'll go up against Paxton during the Republican primaries next March.

The attorney general positions himself as a disruptor against the Republican establishment embodied in the longtime Senate fixture.

It’s a race to the finish line as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the incumbent Republican, and his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, make their final cases to voters.

To win, the congressman needs to convince Texas voters to break decades of precedent. Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to a statewide office in three decades.

Cruz is downplaying his hardline opposition to abortion, while stressing his recent work with Democrats on transportation bills that bring jobs to Texas.