March 3 (UPI) — The first primaries for the 2026 midterm elections begin on Tuesday in Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas.
Texas is home to a pair of primary races that are expected to be the most competitive with Republican Sen. John Cornyn being challenged by Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
A candidate is required to receive at least 50% of the vote to win a primary in Texas. If no candidate meets that threshold, a runoff is triggered. Texas’ runoff election would be held on May 26 if necessary.
Democrats Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Rep. James Talarico seek the nomination for their party and a chance to flip the Senate seat in Texas.
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is running for the Democratic nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat. Michael Whatley, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, is running in the Republican primary for the same seat.
Cooper and Whatley are considered the frontrunners in their respective primaries. North Carolina’s Senate seats have been held by Republicans since 2014.
The first primary results will come from North Carolina after polls close at 7:30 p.m. EST, on Tuesday. Polls close in Texas at 8 p.m. EST and in Arkansas at 8:30 p.m. EST.