The 2026 midterm elections began in earnest Tuesday as voters headed to the polls for key primaries in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate greets a supporter at a primary election watch party Tuesday, March, 3, 2026 in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the media Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Jack Myer)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the media Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Jack Myer)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, poses for a selfie with a supporter during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, watch results come in on their phones during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks at a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper, right, shares a moment with his wife, Kristin Cooper, left, as he speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
Supporters of North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper watch as he speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, attend a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Supporters of Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, attend a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, react as results come in during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
An attendee waits for the festivities at a primary night election watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Television host Sara Gonzales speaks on stage at a primary night election watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, waves to supporters at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March, 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Pat Garris wears a hat full of political buttons outside a polling location Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Spring, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Primary voters line up to cast ballots at a voting center in Dallas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Primary candidate for U.S. Senate, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, addresses supporters at a campaign stop in Waco, Texas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald, via AP)
Voters in central Texas head to an active polling station at the Ben Hur Shriners Ballroom to vote, in north Austin, Texas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
People attend the primary election night watch party for former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
North Carolina Republican Senate candidate former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, greets supporters at a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
North Carolina Republican Senate candidate former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
A supporter raises their hat at an election night primary watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the media Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The midterms are here. The 2026 campaign kicked off with high-profile primary elections in Texas. Here are some takeaways from Tuesday night.
Just a few seats shy of losing their majority, senior Republicans are eager to emphasize the party’s work to lower costs, while Trump is often focused elsewhere.
New Mexico became the first to bar armed agents from polling locations in response to Trump's immigration crackdown, a step being considered in at least a half dozen other states.
