Andrew Schneider | Houston Public Media

James Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, while Republicans John Cornyn and Ken Paxton head to a May runoff.

Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are headed to a May 26 runoff in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote.

The changes, adopted last April and last December, could add at least a day to the time between when a mail-in ballot is sent and when it receives the postmark needed to be legally admissible.

Cornyn is seeking Texas Republicans’ nomination for a fifth term, in a contest that has seen bitter and expensive attacks on all sides. A new poll shows Paxton pulling away from Cornyn, but with no candidate leading by enough to avoid a runoff.

The Houston-centered congressional seat has been vacant for the past 332 days, since the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and Austin state Rep. James Talarico are the two leading candidates in the Democratic primary for the Senate seat held by Republican incumbent John Cornyn.

An approaching primary election was a factor in Thursday’s Supreme Court decision to set aside a lower court’s ruling that had blocked the Republican-backed map from taking effect. A key question moving forward is whether the lines were redrawn based on race or partisan politics.

Abbott declared the Council on American-Islamic Relations a foreign terrorist organization and a transnational criminal organization, invoking a 2023 Texas statute. CAIR is suing the governor, alleging violations of due process and freedom of speech.

Virts withdrew from his longshot bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican John Cornyn. Instead, he’s running for Texas’ 9th Congressional District.

Tax reform, along with bail practices, dementia research and the state's water supply, are on a ballot that includes 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. Early voting starts Monday. Election Day is Nov. 4.