"The fiercely competitive races have left Democrats unusually hopeful about their chances in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, while Republicans fret they could lose a seat once viewed as safely red. Early voting has soared, particularly on the Democratic side, while political ad spending has surpassed $122m, according to data from AdImpact, making it the most expensive Senate primary on record."
"In the Senate race, Republicans are measuring the potency of Trump's Make America Great Again movement against old-guard conservatism. Democrats, meanwhile, face a choice between two progressive powerhouses with different theories of how to fight and how to win in the Trump era."
"Cornyn, 74, has emphasized his seniority and record, which he has defended as closely aligned with the president. By contrast, Paxton, 64, has presented himself as Maga's vanguard in Texas, willing to battle both Democrats and Republicans."
Texas voters are casting the first votes of the 2026 midterm cycle in high-stakes Senate primaries that will shape both parties' direction in the Trump era. Republicans face a battle between incumbent John Cornyn's establishment conservatism and Ken Paxton's MAGA-aligned challenge, while Democrats choose between progressive candidates with different strategies for winning in Trump country. Early voting has surged, particularly among Democrats, and spending has exceeded $122 million, making this the most expensive Senate primary on record. Democrats express unusual optimism about winning a seat in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, while Republicans worry about losing what was once considered safely Republican territory.
#2026-midterm-elections #texas-senate-primary #trump-maga-movement #democratic-strategy #political-spending-records
Read at www.theguardian.com
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