The 2026 primaries were not kind to incumbents, and the primary runoffs were no exception. Here are the three that lost Tuesday, bringing the total to 7 seats lost.
DALLAS — Tuesday’s primary runoff elections brought more upsets that unseated three incumbents, according to unofficial results. That’s on top of five incumbents who lost their seats in the primary elections held earlier this spring.
In short, it’s a bad year to be an incumbent.
In the most consequential upset of the day, Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent and longtime Senator John Cornyn.
Not only did Paxton win, but he arguably ran away with the race. Unofficial results showed Paxton with nearly 28% more votes than incumbent Cornyn as of 9 a.m. Wednesday. Cornyn is now the first Republican senator in Texas to lose his party’s nomination for reelection.
“We just proved that this Senate seat doesn’t belong to Washington. It belongs to the hardworking men and women of Texas,” said Attorney General Ken Paxton. “I want to thank John Cornyn for his service to this state. John has dedicated much of his life to serving Texans. He’s worked diligently for years to help Texas and for that spirit of service to the Lone Star State and our nation, I’m very grateful.”
On top of Paxton’s win, several other incumbents were unseated.
Down in Houston, a newcomer Democrat, Christian Dashaun Menefee, defeated longtime Congressman Al Green. And again, the race results were not close. Menefee got nearly 70% of the vote compared with Green’s 30%. The upset came after the district was redrawn by Texas Republicans. Menefee already held the seat after a special election.
Former Tarrant County Republican Party Chair Bo French, who faced calls for his resignation from major statewide Republican leaders, defeated an incumbent in the race for railroad commissioner. In this case, the race was very close. French got 50.56% of the vote to Jim Wright’s 49.44%, according to unofficial results. French has previously been heavily criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for posts described as “bigoted,” WFAA previously reported.
Incumbents also fared poorly in the March primary elections
Here are the 5 Texas incumbents who lost their re-election races
Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, R-Woodlands, defeated incumbent Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who was running for his fifth term. Crenshaw had famously clashed with the MAGA supporters. Toth got endorsements from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Turning Point USA and the House Freedom Caucus. Toth got 56% of the vote to Crenshaw’s 40%.
Nate Sheets, endorsed by Governor Abbott, defeated the sitting Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. It’s the first time in years that a statewide Republican official has lost his primary race. President Trump endorsed Miller late in the race. Sheets ended up with 52% of the vote to Miller’s 47%.
Despite spending millions, acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock did not win the primary for the permanent position. The comptroller is the state’s chief financial officer and is in charge of managing the Texas school voucher program. Former state Senator Don Huffines handily defeated Hancock and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick to avoid a runoff and become the Republican nominee. Huffines dominated with 57% of the vote.
In a surprise to many political insiders, veteran state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, narrowly lost his re-election to Junior Ezeonu, the Mayor Pro Tem in Grand Prairie. Ezeonu is a young progressive who advocates for increasing the minimum wage and against the new school voucher program. Ezeonu ended up with 52% of the vote on Tuesday.
And Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot is on track to lose his re-election to former Judge Amber Givens. She leads 51% to 48%. He is behind by more than 7,000 votes.
Givens faced two sanctions from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for allowing a staff member to stand in for her during a criminal court proceeding nearly five years ago. Givens denied the allegation and is appealing the sanction.