Live updates: Multiple key races called for primary election runoffs, AP projects

Sen. John Cornyn is just the latest high-profile Republican incumbent to learn that in today's GOP, conservative credentials are no match for President Donald Trump's undeniable grip on the current Republican Party.

Cornyn has represented the Republican establishment for more than 20 years with a storied ascent from Texas attorney general to the U.S. Senate and Republican leadership. In the end, none of it mattered because Trump wanted him gone, branding him as disloyal.

Cornyn is on a growing list of Republicans paying the political price after falling out of step with Trump. Trump's chosen candidate, current Attorney General Ken Paxton, cruised to victory in the Senate primary runoff despite years of Texas Republican-driven impeachment battles and controversy.

Ordinarily, Republicans consider a state like Texas as safely in their column heading into a general election. Now, that assumption might need rethinking.

To be clear, it will still be an uphill battle for Democrats trying to turn Texas blue. In past Senate races, Democrats have poured massive amounts of money, gotten national attention and seen lots of enthusiasm on the ground only to come up short.

But Paxton's vulnerabilities, coupled with Democratic nominee James Talarico's potential to reach beyond the typical Democratic base, are giving some Democrats a level of optimism they haven't felt in years.

Talarico's messaging could appeal to progressives, moderates, independents, and even disaffected Republicans uncomfortable with Paxton's controversies and Trump-era politics more broadly.

And there is precedent for what Democrats are hoping could happen here.

Trump has pushed flawed candidates before only to watch Democratic candidates prevail in general elections -- even in red states. Trump endorsed Roy Moore in Alabama in 2017 and Herschel Walker in Georgia in 2021 in their respective Senate races. Both were on the receiving end of allegations of misconduct that they vehemently denied. Moore lost to former Sen. Doug Jones, and Walker lost to Sen. Raphael Warnock.

Cornyn's loss may have created a political opening that Democrats haven't had in Texas -- a Republican nominee fully aligned with the MAGA base with vulnerabilities that could alienate enough swing voters and make this must-win race for Republicans a competitive one.

Most of the dust has settled from Tuesday's elections, but some voters in Fort Bend County say they won't forget the experience of being turned away as they tried to cast their ballot.

County leaders cited technical issues that they say caused problems with polling sites countywide for several hours.

ABC13's Tony Atkins heard from frustrated voters, some of whom said they returned multiple times hoping to cast their ballots. Some people said they were able to cast ballots, but others weren't.

The county said election registration data from a city school election on May 2 caused the issue.

"Essentially, we have to click a button to upload a file. The incorrect file was chosen. So it does stem from a clerical error," Election Administrator Chase Wilson said on Tuesday.

In short, he said the wrong voter registration file was sent to polling places countywide, so some people were unable to be checked in.

County Judge Daniel Wong said that led to voting issues from around 2 p.m until 5 p.m.

Throughout the afternoon, questions over possibly extending the 7 p.m. voting deadline loomed. Officials, not moving forward with that proposal, cited a need for both Democratic and Republican leaders to agree on it.

Officials stressed this was not malicious and claimed the integrity of Tuesday's vote was not hindered.

"This issue does not impact the integrity... or the totals of the ballots that were submitted. This has to do with the check-in process at the polling locations, resulting in delays in today's voting," Wilson added.

The race to be the next Harris County judge is down to two candidates.

Unofficial results show November's general election will come down to Republican Orlando Sanchez and Democrat Letitia Plummer, both former Houston City Councilors.

Sanchez won his runoff single-handedly. But on the Democratic side, between former Council Member Dr. Letitia Plummer and former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, the race came down to just over 2,500 votes.

On the Republican side, Sanchez beat Warren Howell, the president of an insurance company, by nearly 36,000 votes.

Sanchez has said county government hasn't been working for the community in recent years, pointing to issues like the backlog in the criminal justice system and stalled flood projects.

So, it'll be Sanchez versus Plummer in November's general election for county judge, replacing incumbent Lina Hidalgo, who chose not to seek reelection.

SEE FULL REPORT: Harris County judge race appears to be set, with Orlando Sanchez and Letitia Plummer leading races

The race to be the next Harris County judge is down to two candidates, with Republican Orlando Sanchez and Democrat Letitia Plummer winning their respective primaries.

The Associated Press projected that Christian Menefee has won the District 18 Congressional seat, defeating longtime Congressman Al Green in a race shaped by redistricting and defined by age and experience.

Those who live in District 18 have cast votes for their representative four times in less than a year, with previous representatives including Sheila Jackson Lee and former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner.

The new congressional lines drastically changed Green's longtime 9th Congressional District, drawing his home into a brand new 18th district.

SEE FULL REPORT: Menefee wins Democratic primary for 18th House District in Texas, beats Green, AP projects