Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is headed to a runoff against George P. Bush

At least 1.9 million Republicans and one million Democrats cast ballots in Texas during Tuesday’s primary. The Republican vote total is currently the third highest all-time for a Republican primary and could move into the second highest voting spot, depending on results in the Houston area. Republican turnout – raw votes and percent of registered voters – exceeds 2018. Democratic turnout is still behind 2018 but could eventually eclipse earlier years.

The race for attorney general in Texas pits Ken Paxton the two-term incumbent, beset by a criminal indictment and FBI probe, against George P. Bush, the state’s land commissioner and scion of a political dynasty, in a May 24 runoff.

Despite an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, Texas Attorney General Paxton failed to garner enough Republican support in Tuesday's GOP primary to avoid a runoff. The embattled incumbent, under indictment since 2015 and facing an FBI probe into how he runs his office, will face Land Commissioner Bush, a scion of a political dynasty, in a May 24 runoff.

Paxton, the two-term incumbent, boasted the largest campaign war chest. But in a field of four candidates, he was unable to secure more than 50 percent of the vote, setting him up on the defensive in the biggest fight of his political life.

Texas’ top Republicans mostly fended off challengers in the GOP primary Tuesday. Meanwhile, a slate of progressives made inroads in Democratic primaries for Congress — but fell short of their goal of an immediate sweep that would reshape the Texas’ U.S. House delegation.

If you are not a member, join TODAY and start saving! JOIN NOW!

To learn more about our mission, our five foundational principles and our board of directors: