2 major Texas primaries head to runoffs after candidates fail to win majorities of votes

The Republican nomination for state attorney general and a House battle between progressives and the Democratic establishment will go to runoffs after no candidates could get a majority of votes in Texas’s primaries Tuesday night.

Sitting Attorney General Ken Paxton was unable to secure the nomination despite the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. The May runoff will be between Paxton and George P. Bush, the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, nephew of former President George W. Bush and grandson of former President George H.W. Bush.

Paxton has served as attorney general since 2015 but has been under investigation by the FBI for allegedly committing bribery and abuse of office in order to benefit a major donor, a charge levied by a number of former staffers in 2020. He has positioned himself at the forefront of conservative culture wars, including issuing an argument last week that charged parents who helped their transgender children receive gender-affirming care with child abuse.

"May 24 is not that far away,” Paxton said at a Tuesday night event, attempting to pitch himself as the antiestablishment candidate. “Tomorrow we start 0-0. If you want to keep winning for Texas, if you want to be part of saving Texas and saving this country, we're going to have to fight the fight for the next two and a half months, get our vote back out, unite the conservatives."

Bush beat out two other challengers against Paxton, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and Rep. Louie Gohmert. With most of the vote counted, Paxton was at 43 percent — falling short of the 50 percent needed to avoid the runoff — with Bush at 23 percent and both Guzman and Gohmert around 17 percent.

Bush has been criticized for his role in the restoration of the Alamo memorial, which he oversaw in his current job as Texas land commissioner. A prior land commissioner claimed he had “glaring screwups,” and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has cited his “lousy management.” Much of the pushback is related to Bush's attempt to move a 60-foot monument known as the Spirit of Sacrifice.

“Ken, I know you’re sitting at home, as you usually are, and it’s time for you to get off the couch,” Bush said Tuesday night. “Engage conservatives, be truthful about your felony counts and the FBI investigation, and let’s have debates.”

Democrats in southeastern Texas will have a big choice to make in May as well, as incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar will head to a runoff with 28-year-old immigration attorney Jessica Cisneros in the 28th District. It’s a rematch from 2020, when Cuellar edged out his challenger by 4 points.

Cisneros has the backing of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, from the Justice Democrats organization, which helped propel Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to victory in 2018, to Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Cuellar is a pro-business centrist and nine-term incumbent who has the support of House Democratic leadership despite being the only member of his party to vote against a bill last fall that would have codified the federal right to an abortion.

In addition to the coordinated challenge from the left, Cuellar has faced scrutiny since the FBI raided his home and office in late January. The FBI hasn’t commented, and Cuellar has said the investigation, which he's fully cooperating with, would clear him of any wrongdoing. ABC News reported that the inquiry was tied to Azerbaijani businesses, which could explain the interest in Cuellar, who currently serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.

“On May 24, when I turn 29 years old, I expect to be the Democratic nominee for this district," Cisneros told reporters Wednesday morning, adding, "I think we are going to keep focusing on our strategy. We have shown that it's working."

Whoever prevails in the congressional runoff is likely to face a tough race for what has been a traditionally Democratic seat, with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rating it as only “Lean Democrat” in an area where Republicans made gains in the 2020 election.

The Republican nominee will also be decided in May’s runoff. Cassy Garcia, a former staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz and the Trump administration, led a crowded field with 30 percent of the vote.