DALLAS (KRLD) — The dust is still settling on a primary night in Texas that defied expectations, sent high-profile races into overtime, and signaled a potential shift in voter energy. SMU Political Science Professor Cal Jillson spoke with KRLD to break down the "fascinating" results that are reshaping the 2026 political landscape.
The Senate "Shockers": Talarico’s Surge and the Cornyn-Paxton Showdown
The headline story of the night came from the U.S. Senate primaries, where both parties saw results that diverted from early campaign narratives.
Democrats Choose "Control" over "High Octane": Despite early momentum for Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, State Representative James Talarico claimed the Democratic nomination outright with 53% of the vote. Jillson notes that Democratic voters opted for Talarico’s "more controlled" message, which aims to reach beyond the party base to independents and disaffected Republicans.
GOP Civil War Heads to Runoff: On the Republican side, incumbent John Cornyn (42%) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (41%) are headed for what Jillson describes as a "very expensive" and closely watched runoff. While Cornyn performed better than some anticipated, the looming question is whether the "MAGA Republican base" in Texas will rally behind Paxton in May.
The DFW Proxy Wars: Allred and Johnson Stand Tall
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Democratic battle for the 33rd Congressional District is also heading to a runoff between former Congressman Colin Allred and State Representative Julie Johnson. Jillson observed that Allred ran a stronger-than-expected race, but with two experienced candidates on the ballot, Democratic voters in North Texas will have a difficult—but high-quality—choice to make in the coming months.
A "Shocking" Shift in Voter Energy?
Perhaps the most significant "second-day" angle is the statewide turnout. Jillson pointed out a rare anomaly in Texas politics: Democrats turned out approximately 200,000 more voters statewide than Republicans.
"Normally, the Republican primary will draw 130% to 140% of the number drawn by Democrats," Jillson told KRLD. "Democrats were energized in this primary election cycle... that's unusual."
The Bottom Line: With the GOP moving into a brutal runoff season and Democrats showing unexpected turnout strength, the road to November 2026 is officially wide open.