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Nearly 4.5 million Texans voted in the Democratic and Republican primaries, according to The Texas Tribune, surpassing recent turnout numbers. A total of 2.3 million ballots were cast in the Democratic primary and 2.2 million in the Republican primary, marking the first time Democratic turnout was higher since 2020. Texas has 18.7 million registered voters, so turnout was just under 25%.
Voters in both parties can return to the polls in May to decide primary winners in several runoff elections where no candidate garnered a majority:
• U.S. Sen. John Cornyn faces challenger Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Cornyn received 41.9% of the GOP vote to 40.7% for Paxton in the March 3 primary.
• State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, faces U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin for the Republican nomination for Texas attorney general. Middleton led in the primary with 39.1%, while Roy had 31.6%.
• On the Democratic side for attorney general, state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, faces former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski. Johnson fell just short of winning a majority with 48.1% in the primary, while Jaworski earned 26.4% of the vote.
• Two Democrats are headed for a runoff for lieutenant governor. State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, finished well ahead of Marcos Velez, a Houston labor leader, with 48% of the vote. Velez received 31.5% of the primary vote. The winner will face incumbent GOP Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
There are also several runoffs slated in congressional and state house races. The runoffs will be held May 26, with early voting running from May 18-22. Voters cannot cross over to vote in a runoff, meaning if they voted in the Democratic primary, they cannot vote in a GOP runoff, and vice versa. Voters who didn’t cast ballots in either March primary can participate in the runoff of either party.
GAS PRICES SPIKE SHARPLY IN WAKE OF IRAN WAR
The price of gasoline rose nearly a dollar per gallon in some cities after the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. The Dallas Morning News reported gas prices are now at their highest level
since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been largely stalled, greatly reducing production by Asian refiners.
U.S. crude oil prices topped $89 late last week. Since the Friday before the attacks, Brent crude oil, the global benchmark for oil prices, has increased by 24%.
Trump said March 6 there will not be a deal to end the U.S.-Iran war without an “unconditional surrender” by Iran.
HUFFINES SAYS HE WOULD NOT CHANGE VOUCHER PROGRAM Former state Sen. Don Huffines, who handily beat Gov. Greg Abbott’s handpicked candidate for state comptroller in the GOP primary, said he does not intend to change the state’s $1 billion voucher program if he wins election in November. Huffines, who challenged Abbott for the governorship in 2022, praised the current handling of the program, according to the Houston Chronicle.
“We’re not here to be disruptive,” Huffines said. “I don’t see a big disruption in the process that’s already started, as long as it’s going smoothly and being run effectively and managed.”
Huffines will face state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, DAustin, Nov. 3. The comptroller’s office has been tasked with overseeing the voucher program, which is in its first year.
GONZALES ENDS REELECTION BID AFTER ADMITTING AFFAIR U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, withdrew from his reelection race after admitting to an extramarital affair with an aide who later died by suicide, The Dallas Morning News reported.
“After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek reelection while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district,” Gonzales said in a statement posted on social media.
The House Ethics Commit tee announced a probe into his conduct after the primary ended. Gonzales finished second to challenger Brandon Herrera in the Republican primary for the state’s 23rd congressional district, but the race was headed to a runoff until Gonzales withdrew.
Herrera will face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout, an attorney, in the general election.
SPACEX BEACH-CLOSURE FIGHT REACHES TEXAS SUPREME COURT The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in a fight over whether counties can temporarily close a beach for a space flight, The Texas Tribune reported. Rio Grande Valley environmentalists and indigenous groups have sued over a 2013 law that allows some counties to close a beach.
The dispute primarily concerns SpaceX, which operates a launch site near Boca Chica Beach in Cameron County. The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized the company to launch rockets up to 25 times a year, prompting the closure of roughly eight miles of beach adjacent to the launch pad.
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued the Open Beaches Amendment to the state constitution grants the public an unrestricted right to use public beaches. The state contended the amendment does not guarantee unlimited, unfettered access.
“It is a more limited right,” said Beth Klusmann, deputy solicitor general for the Texas Attorney General’s Office. “The question, of course, then is what are those limits?”
TXDOT WARNS ABOUT SPRING BREAK DRUNK DRIVING Spring Break is upon us, and the Texas Department of Transportation is supporting community efforts across the state to stop impaired driving. Texas last year saw a spike of drunk-driving crashes in March, more than any other month.
There were 700 driving- under-the-influence alcohol-related traffic crashes in the state during the 2025 Spring Break period, leading to 36 fatalities and 63 serious injuries. During that time, 51% of all alcohol- related crashes in Texas involved young drivers ages 17–30.
Drivers are urged to never drive after consuming any amount of alcohol or drugs and to arrange for a sober ride beforehand.
Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park.
