Context:

Texas voters head to the polls on May 26 for runoff elections across statewide offices and congressional districts, shaping the nominees for the November general election. The Republican slate features a U.S. Senate contest between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton, along with runoffs for Texas Attorney General and Railroad Commissioner, while Democrats race for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. In Congress, multiple districts from 1 through 38 hold runoff matchups, with several races noting candidates who have dropped out or been endorsed by Trump. The overarching dynamic centers on intra-party contests that will determine candidate slates ahead of the general election, with statewide and district-level implications for policy and party alignment. The outcome will influence campaign momentum and downstream electoral strategies as November approaches.

Dive Deeper:

• Republican statewide runoff candidates include U.S. Senate: John Cornyn vs. Ken Paxton; Texas Attorney General: Mayes Middleton vs. Chip Roy; and Texas Railroad Commissioner: Jim Wright vs. Bo French.

• Democratic statewide runoff candidates include Texas Lieutenant Governor: Marcos Velez vs. Vikki Goodwin; and Texas Attorney General: Nathan Johnson vs. Joe Jaworski.

• Republican congressional runoff races cover districts 7, 9, 16, 19, 23 (noting that Tony Gonzales has dropped out), 30, 32 (noting Brian Binkley has dropped out), 33, 35, 37, and 38, with various pairings such as District 7: Tina Cohen vs. Alexander Hale and District 9: Alex Mealer vs. Briscoe Cain.

• Democratic congressional runoff races include districts 1, 5, 14, 17, 18, 24, 33, 35, listing pairings like District 1: Dax Alexander vs. Yolanda Prince and District 18: Christian D. Menefee vs. Al Green.

• Trump endorsements in these races are noted for U.S. Senate: Ken Paxton; District 9: Alex Mealer; District 35: Carlos De La Cruz; District 38: Jon Bonck.

• The article emphasizes voters should verify local election offices for district- or county-specific runoff details and timely updates on candidate status.