Make Me Smart The big money in the Texas primaries
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Mar 6, 2026 Blaise Gainey, a state politics reporter for The Texas Newsroom and KUT in Austin, breaks down this week’s heated Texas primaries. He highlights record campaign spending and how runoffs can flip outcomes. He explains the Railroad Commission’s surprising influence on oil and gas policy. Plus a playful round comparing Texas icons and regional food favorites.
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Top Statewide Races Largely Unchanged But Many Runoffs Loom
- Texas primaries largely followed expectations at the top with Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick winning big on the GOP side and Gina Hinojosa winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
- Several high-profile contests moved to runoffs, which historically draw fewer voters and favor the party base, making outcomes less predictable.
Big Spending Shaped The Senate Runoff
- Money dominated the Senate primary where John Cornyn and Ken Paxton both advanced to a runoff, with Cornyn outspending opponents by a large margin.
- Cornyn's high spending translated to a costly per-vote rate (
$16 per vote) compared with Paxton ($5 per vote).
Record Spending Fueled Downballot Battles
- This year's Texas primaries were the most expensive in state history as donors funneled cash not only to top tickets but to influence competitive down-ballot contests.
- Republicans poured donations and super PAC support into multiple races fearing a possible Democratic pickup given national dynamics and local turnout shifts.