As polls closed in El Paso County, Texas, voters had their say in the May 2026 Primary Runoff Election. This crucial event will determine which candidates advance to the November general election, following races where no candidate secured a majority in the March primary.

Local Impact: U.S. Representative for District 16

In the Republican runoff for U.S. Representative for District 16, Adam Bauman has taken a commanding lead with approximately 70% of the votes against Manuel J. Barraza. With 59% of precincts reporting, the winner will challenge U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar in the upcoming November election, a race that will be closely watched by the community.

Statewide Races: U.S. Senate and Attorney General

On a broader scale, CNN projects that Attorney General Ken Paxton will defeat Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate. Paxton’s lead was evident early on, with 63% of the votes compared to Cornyn’s 37% as of the latest updates.

In the Republican Texas Attorney General runoff, Mayes Middleton is maintaining a lead over U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, holding 57% of the votes. This race is significant as it determines the Republican candidate for a key state office.

Democratic Runoffs

The Democratic runoff for Attorney General sees Nathan Johnson projected to win against Joe Jaworski with 55.53% of the votes reported. Similarly, Vikki Goodwin is leading the Democratic race for Lieutenant Governor with a substantial 69% against Marcos Isaias Velez.

These elections are pivotal not only for the candidates but also for the voters who are shaping the political landscape of Texas. The outcomes will influence the direction of both state and federal representation from Texas.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.