Texans will choose a new U.S. senator on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. A U.S. senator votes on every federal law and the federal budget and confirms federal judges and cabinet members, serving a six-year term. The seat is open: Sen. John Cornyn lost the Republican primary runoff in May.
Three candidates are printed on the general-election ballot. They’re listed here alphabetically by last name.
Ted Brown (Libertarian) is a retired insurance adjuster from Austin. He says he’d repeal the federal income tax and abolish the IRS, and replace them with nothing. He campaigns on bringing all U.S. troops home from overseas and protecting Americans’ personal data from government surveillance.
Ken Paxton (Republican) has been Texas attorney general since 2015. He says he’d work with President Trump to cut taxes, finish the border wall and carry out deportations. He campaigns on taking on large drug and food companies and doubling the child tax credit.
James Talarico (Democratic) has been a Texas state representative since 2019 and is a former middle school teacher. He says his first bills in the Senate would ban super PACs and corporate PACs and end partisan gerrymandering. He campaigns on letting every American join Medicare, lowering prescription drug costs and cutting taxes for working families.
What’s not settled: four independent write-in candidates are also certified in this race; their names won’t appear printed on the ballot, so voters who support them must write them in.
For the voter: Texas’s registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 5. Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. Voters who qualify to vote by mail — including those 65 and older — must have their application received by Oct. 23. Check your registration and look up what’s on your ballot at votetexas.gov, the Texas Secretary of State’s official voter site.
Drafted by News Observed Editorial AI, human reviewed and published.