From The Texas Tribune · Apurva Mahajan, Renzo Downey, Gabby Birenbaum · · 1m 20s
Texas 2026 Election Competitive Races
Texas has its most competitive U.S. House and state legislative races for 2026.
In brief
Texas has its most competitive U.S. House and state legislative races for 2026. Texas has 14 competitive U.S. House and state legislative races for 2026, with Hispanic voters shifting toward Republicans in South Texas. Originally reported by The Texas Tribune.
Texas 2026 Competitive Races
Texas has its biggest slate of competitive races for the Texas Legislature and U.S. Congress in years.
U.S. House Races
All four of Texas's most competitive U.S. House races are in majority-Hispanic districts across South Texas.
2024 Election Margins
These districts went for Trump by 10 points or more in 2024, with Hispanic voters shifting toward Republicans.
Redrawn Congressional Map
The Texas GOP's redrawn congressional map targets three Democratic seats in the U.S. House.
District 35 Competition
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz would have beaten O’Rourke by less than half a percentage point in 2018.
District 15 Race
Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz faces Tejano musician Bobby Pulido in a redrawn District 15.
Texas House Races
At least a dozen Texas House districts are highly competitive, with Trump winning by less than 10 points in 2024.
House Control
Democrats would need to flip 14 seats to gain control of the Texas House.
South Texas Races
Democrats see a chance to win back previously blue seats if Latino voters abandon the GOP.
The key point
Texas has 14 competitive U.S. House and state legislative races for 2026, with Hispanic voters shifting toward Republicans in South Texas.
