Texas and North Carolina vote in key Senate, House elections: Live updates

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Texas and North Carolina vote in key Senate, House elections: Live updates

Today’s primaries showcase battles over two Senate seats that could turn the chamber blue and a GOP redistricting map that could shrink the Democratic House count.

Final push before Texas Senate primaries on Tuesday March 2, 2026 / 05:43

Mar. 3, 2026, 9:03 AM EST

Updated Mar. 3, 2026, 10:35 AM EST

By Ebony Davis and Sydney Carruth

What to know

The 2026 midterm elections kick off in three states today. Voters are casting ballots in U.S. Senate and House primary races in Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas. The results could help flip control of the Senate from Republican to Democratic in the November elections.
Both parties are closely watching highly competitive Senate primaries in North Carolina and Texas, and a new congressional map in Texas poses a challenge to Democrats, including 11-term Rep. Al Green.
In Texas, Sen. John Cornyn is in a close race against MAGA challenger Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico are vying for the state’s Democratic Senate nomination. And GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales is trying to keep a scandal from stripping him of his seat.
North Carolina’s primary contenders are focused on claiming the soon-to-be-vacant seat of retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis. Potential last-minute endorsements from President Donald Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., could secure wins for their favored candidates.

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