The first voting locations have closed in Texas as voters decide key primary elections for governor, U.S. Senate, attorney general, and several congressional seats, with contests expected to shape the state’s GOP leadership and influence federal representation.

Incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott is running for a fourth term and is widely expected to secure the Republican nomination. Abbott has served as governor since 2015 and previously held office as Texas’s longest-serving attorney general from 2002 to 2015. He faces a crowded Republican primary field, but with more than $100 million in campaign funds and a strong record of conservative leadership, Abbott remains far ahead. If reelected in November, he would become the longest-serving governor in Texas history.

With Ken Paxton running for U.S. Senate, the race to replace him as Texas attorney general has drawn national attention. On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, State Sen. Mayes Middleton, and State Sen. Joan Huffman are the leading contenders, focusing on defending Texas law, protecting the border, and opposing federal overreach. Democrats, led by former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, are campaigning on left-wing priorities like expanding Medicaid and legalizing recreational marijuana. A runoff is expected in the Republican primary if no candidate clears 50 percent.

The Texas Senate race is highly competitive. On the Republican side, Attorney General Ken Paxton currently leads incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the polls, with a runoff likely. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt is also in the race, drawing support from Houston-area conservatives and potentially influencing whether the contest goes to a runoff. Paxton emphasizes enforcing state law and supporting President Trump’s agenda, while Cornyn highlights his experience and warns that a Paxton nomination could weaken Republican dominance statewide. In the Democratic primary, State Rep. James Talarico holds a narrow lead over Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, with Talarico appealing to moderates and independents and Crockett running as a strong opponent of Trump and conservative policies.

Several congressional primaries in Texas are shaping up as pivotal tests for the Republican Party. In TX‑2, incumbent Dan Crenshaw faces a challenge from Steve Toth, with a runoff possible if no candidate reaches a majority due to minor or long-shot candidates in the race. TX‑9 could also see a runoff between Alex Mealer and Briscoe Cain. In TX‑10, Chris Gober is the leading candidate and may secure the nomination outright, while in TX‑19, Tom Sell and Abraham Enriquez are the main contenders, and a runoff is possible. Other key Republican races include TX‑21 (Mark Teixeira), TX‑22 (Trever Nehls), TX‑28 (Tano Tijerina), and TX‑32 (Jace Yarbrough), with most expected to avoid runoffs. In TX‑8, Jessica Steinmann is positioned to win outright, and in TX‑31, John Carter is expected to hold his seat, with attention on second place. TX‑34 will likely go to a runoff between Eric Flores and Mayra Flores, and TX‑35 could see Carlos De La Cruz secure the nomination without a runoff. In TX‑23, scandal-plagued incumbent Tony Gonzales faces primary challenger Brandon Herrera, with a runoff possible if no candidate reaches a majority due to minor or long-shot candidates entering the race.

A judge has extended voting hours to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Democratic polling sites in Dallas County after confusion over precinct assignments left some voters turned away, as Texans head to the polls in key Republican primaries for governor, U.S. Senate, attorney general, and congressional seats.