Texas
Texas voters faced confusion at Dallas County polls after a GOP rule change redirected hundreds to wrong locations on primary day. Pete Alexopoulos/Unsplash

Hundreds of Texas voters showed up at the wrong polling stations on Tuesday. Now, a razor-thin Democratic Senate primary hangs in the balance.

State Representative James Talarico led US Representative Jasmine Crockett 51.6% to 47.1% as votes continued to be counted, according to NBC News. The race remains too early to call.

Note: Percentages change in real-time based on live tracking.

If Talarico's lead slips below the 50% mark as late ballots are counted, a 26 May runoff will be triggered. Should the race tighten enough to force that second round, it would become the most expensive Democratic primary in Texas history to end without a clear winner on election night.

Dallas County Chaos Hit Crockett's Turf

Here's what went wrong. The Dallas County Republican Party switched from countywide voting centres to precinct-specific locations for Election Day. Voters who'd used any location during early voting suddenly couldn't do the same on 3 March.

A Dallas County judge extended Democratic polling hours to 9 p.m. The Texas Supreme Court blocked it within hours, ordering all ballots cast after 7 p.m. to be separated.

'This effort to suppress the vote, to confuse and inconvenience voters is having its intended effect as people are being turned away from the polls,' the Crockett campaign said.

The damage hit her base directly. Nearly 200 voters showed up at incorrect sites in Oak Lawn alone. Dallas County is the state's second most populous and a Democratic stronghold.

A $20 Million Fundraising Gap

Talarico, a former San Antonio public school teacher, has outraised everyone in this race. Everyone. His campaign pulled in over $20.7 million (£15.5 million), more than Crockett's $8.6 million (£6.4 million), and even more than Republican incumbent Senator John Cornyn, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Crockett entered with the bigger name. Her viral takedowns of Republicans in Congress made her a national figure. But Talarico's cash advantage let him flood Texas airwaves while she was still working her day job in Washington.

Cornyn and Paxton Head to Runoff

The Republican side isn't any cleaner. NBC News projects Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will face off on 26 May after neither secured a majority.

With returns still being counted, Cornyn held around 43% to Paxton's 40%. Representative Wesley Hunt trailed at 13%. His late entry split the vote and guaranteed a runoff.

The GOP race has drawn nearly $100 million (£75 million) in advertising. Cornyn's campaign alone spent roughly $59 million (£44.2 million), according to ad tracking data.

Paxton carries baggage. He faced impeachment in 2023 over bribery allegations. The Texas Senate acquitted him. His wife filed for divorce last year. However, he remains popular with the party's conservative base. President Donald Trump hasn't endorsed anyone, though according to reports, he may step in for the runoff.

Mail-In Ballots Could Shift Everything

Ballots postmarked by the deadline can still be counted until 5 p.m. on 4 March. The Democratic race is close enough that late arrivals could change the math.

If both primaries go to runoffs, Texas Democrats get their best shot at flipping a Senate seat since 1994. The combination of a brutal GOP civil war, potential backlash against the Trump administration, and the chance to face a scandal-damaged Paxton in November has energised the party.

But first, someone has to answer for Dallas County. Hundreds of confused voters. A blocked court order. Ballots in legal limbo. The most expensive Texas primary ever may come down to how many people couldn't find where to vote.

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