Paxton, Talarico Race Tightens, Recount Possible
Polling shows the Texas Senate contest between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is close enough that a recount could be requested.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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The Republican and Democratic nominees for Texas Senate, Ken Paxton and James Talarico, are running a tight race that could lead to a recount. Under Texas law, a losing candidate may petition for a recount if the margin is less than 10% of the leader's vote total.
Why it matters
A recount in a statewide Senate race would extend the uncertainty over the outcome and carry costs for the petitioning candidate. For Texas voters, the process determines how and when the official result is confirmed.
Texas law sets a recount threshold at a margin under 10% of the leader's vote total, with petitions filed with the Texas secretary of state. The exact recount filing deadline has not yet been set, and the final vote margin is not yet available.
The players
Ken Paxton
Ken Paxton is the Republican nominee for Texas Senate and a former Texas attorney general who has held prominent state office.
James Talarico
James Talarico is the Democratic nominee for Texas Senate and a former Texas state legislator.
Texas Secretary of State
The Texas Secretary of State is the state office that receives statewide recount petitions and oversees election administration in Texas.
The details
A losing candidate must file a recount petition identifying the race and the votes to be recounted, and must make a deposit toward recount costs. If the recount changes the winner, the full deposit is refunded; if costs exceed the deposit, the petitioner pays the difference.
Timeline
Election held Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Recount petitions are generally due by 5 p.m. on the third business day after the official canvass.
Political Context
The 10% margin threshold in the Texas Election Code sets the bar for statewide recounts, and the Paxton-Talarico race now tests it at the highest level of the state's ballot. Opposing parties typically use recount petitions to challenge close outcomes, and the cost-deposit rule limits filings to candidates willing to pay for the process.
If the margin stays under 10%, a losing candidate can request a recount, which means the final Senate result may not be known for some time. Voters should expect the official outcome to remain pending until the canvass and any recount process are complete.
The takeaway
A close statewide result turns on procedural deadlines as much as vote totals, so tracking the official canvass and any recount filing is the clearest way to follow how this race is resolved.
What happens next
A recount petition, if filed, must be submitted to the Texas secretary of state by 5 p.m. on the third business day after the official canvass.
Further reading
For more on how these contests are run, see Texas Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
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