The 2026 midterm elections began in earnest Tuesday as voters headed to the polls for key primaries in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle over control of Congress and state governments this November.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
An attendee waits for the festivities at a primary night election watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
An attendee waits for the festivities at a primary night election watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, watch results come in on their phones during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, watch results come in on their phones during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks at a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks at a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, react as results come in during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, react as results come in during a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the media Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Jack Myer)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the media Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Jack Myer)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, poses for a selfie with a supporter during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, poses for a selfie with a supporter during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, waves to supporters at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March, 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, waves to supporters at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March, 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper, right, shares a moment with his wife, Kristin Cooper, left, as he speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper, right, shares a moment with his wife, Kristin Cooper, left, as he speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
Supporters of Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, attend a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Supporters of Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, attend a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate greets a supporter at a primary election watch party Tuesday, March, 3, 2026 in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate greets a supporter at a primary election watch party Tuesday, March, 3, 2026 in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the media Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Jack Myer)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the media Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Jack Myer)
Television host Sara Gonzales speaks on stage at a primary night election watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Television host Sara Gonzales speaks on stage at a primary night election watch party for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
North Carolina Republican Senate candidate former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
North Carolina Republican Senate candidate former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Supporters of North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper watch as he speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
Supporters of North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper watch as he speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
Primary voters line up to cast ballots at a voting center in Dallas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Primary voters line up to cast ballots at a voting center in Dallas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Primary candidate for U.S. Senate, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, addresses supporters at a campaign stop in Waco, Texas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald, via AP)
Primary candidate for U.S. Senate, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, addresses supporters at a campaign stop in Waco, Texas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald, via AP)
Pat Garris wears a hat full of political buttons outside a polling location Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Spring, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Pat Garris wears a hat full of political buttons outside a polling location Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Spring, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
People attend the primary election night watch party for former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
People attend the primary election night watch party for former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, attend a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Supporters of Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, attend a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Voters in central Texas head to an active polling station at the Ben Hur Shriners Ballroom to vote, in north Austin, Texas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Voters in central Texas head to an active polling station at the Ben Hur Shriners Ballroom to vote, in north Austin, Texas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
