Record number of candidates and contested primaries in the 2026 Texas state legislative elections

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Texas has 465 major party candidates running for the Legislature on March 3, the most in any election dating back to 2010. There are 238 Democrats running, up 20% from the 199 Democratic candidates who ran in 2024. There are 227 Republicans running, up 7% from 212 in 2024.

Texas has 103 contested state legislative primaries this year, an 11% increase from 2024 and the most since 2010. There are 46 Democratic primaries, a 39% increase from 33 in 2024 and a record high for the party. Republicans have 57 contested primaries, down 5% from 60 contested primaries in 2024.

Forty-four incumbents have primary challenges, representing 31% of all incumbents running for re-election. An average of 29% of incumbents faced contested primaries between 2010 and 2024.

Sixteen of the 31 total Senate seats and all 150 House seats are up for election. Twenty-six seats are open, meaning no incumbents are running. This means newcomers will make up at least 14% of the Legislature next year. An average of 18 seats were open from 2010 to 2024.

Texas has had a Republican trifecta since they assumed control of the House in 2003. Republicans have an 88-62 majority in the House and an 18-11 majority in the Senate, with two vacancies.

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