AMNA NAWAZ: For those of you# staying with us, tomorrow,## voters head to the polls in# Arkansas, .. But it's in the Lone Star State where competitive## races on both sides of the aisle# have fueled unprecedented spending.

Political correspondent Lisa Desjardins has more# on what's at stake in Texas' U.S.

Senate race.

(CHEERING) LISA DESJARDINS: Welcome to the race# for the U.S.

Senate, Texa.. with two larger-than-life# primaries, one in each party.

SEN.

JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): Character is on# the ballot.

I believe voters still care## about their elected officials, and they# want people who will tell them the truth.

LISA DESJARDINS: The incumbent, Republican# John Cornyn, faces two other Texas lawmakers,## Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman# Wesley Hunt.

It's the fight of his 24-year career.

TONY PLOHETSKI, The Austin-American# Statesman: He's tried and true in## the minds of many voters in Texas.

LISA DESJARDINS: Tony Plohetski is a# journalist with The Austin-American Statesman.

Cornyn is running as experienced# and battle-tested.

However,## while he was once ranked among the# most conservative senators, now?

TONY PLOHETSKI: Paxton and his voters# and his supporters have really been## able to nurture this idea that John# Cornyn has not been hard right enough.

LISA DESJARDINS: Paxton's policies are ultra-MAGA.

KEN PAXTON (R), Texas Senatorial# Candidate: I want you to know,## I'm not going up to Washington,# D.C., to join the swamp club.

LISA DESJARDINS: As A.G., Paxton emphatically# enforced the state's abortion ban and filed## the lawsuit challenging the 2020# presidential election result.

MAN: Attorney General Paxton, please rise.

LISA DESJARDINS: But he has faced sharp scrutiny.# In 2023, the Texas House passed 20 articles of## impeachment against Paxton for bribery and# abuse of power with charges that he had an## affair and got the woman a job as part of a quid# pro quo.

The state Senate narrowly acquitted him,## but his wife filed for divorce,# and Cornyn has put out this new ad.

NARRATOR: Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his# wife.

She's divorcing him on biblical grounds.

LISA DESJARDINS: It is personal,# and Paxton responded so.

WOMAN: My dad is a really good guy.

He loves God,# he loves his family, and he loves this country.

LISA DESJARDINS: With his daughter,# son-in-law, grandkids, and him on FaceTime.

Plohetski says it may work.

TONY PLOHETSKI: He has successfully# dodged and overcome so many allegations,## and yet the MAGA base in particular# has continued to support him.

LISA DESJARDINS: But what about the MAGA chief?

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: Well, thank you very much,## everybody.

I'm thrilled to be# back in the great state of Texas.

LISA DESJARDINS: President Donald# Trump seems to be endorsing everyone.

DONALD TRUMP: We have a great attorney# general, Ken Paxton.

Where's Ken?

Hi,## Ken.

Hi, Ken.

And we have a great senator,# John Cornyn.

Hi, John.

Thank you, John.

LISA DESJARDINS: For example, Friday.

DONALD TRUMP: And another friend# of mine who's doing very well,## Wesley Hunt.

Where's Wesley?# Wesley Hunt.

Doing a good job.

LISA DESJARDINS: As for Hunt, his dogged,# crisscrossing of the state may mean neither## Paxton nor Cornyn can get a majority, which would# force a run-off in may.

All that is again raising## Texas Democrats' hopes, even as they face# their own brutal battle between electeds,## Austin Statehouse Representative James Talarico# and Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

REP.

JASMINE CROCKETT (D-TX), SENATORIAL# CANDIDATE: You're spending more taxpayer## resources arresting journalists than you# are prosecuting pedophiles and cree.. LISA DESJARDINS: On Capitol Hill,# Crockett is a rhetorical brawler,## known for not pulling punches,# as seen with A.G.

Pam Bondi.

REP.

JASMINE CROCKETT: I completely don't get# how it is that you're sitting at the top of DOJ,## because you don't seem to be good at your job.

LISA DESJARDINS: She argues Democrats in# Texas and across the country want a fighter.

REP.

JASMINE CROCKETT: Right now,## people are not happy with .. want is someone who is going to be unafraid# in the face of what we are facing right now.

STATE REP.

JAMES TALARICO (D-TX),# Senatorial Candidate: We have to## win in November.

I think.. LISA DESJARDINS: Talarico differs# little from Crockett on policy,## but enormously on style.

He leans# into God and does not throw elbows.

STATE REP.

JAMES TALARICO: My faith teaches me# that love is the strongest force in the universe.

LISA DESJARDINS: Talarico rose to# national prominence when he and## other state Democrats left Texas# to delay GOP remapping efforts.

STEPHEN COLBERT, Host, "The Late Show# With Stephen Colbert": It's not the## first time you have caus.. LISA DESJARDINS: More recently, he benefited after# CBS blocked his interview with late-night host## Stephen Colbert.

It went on YouTube instead, and# Talarico raised more than $2 million the next day.

For Democrats, it's an important# decision about who is stronger## and who is more electable.

And it could# offer guideposts for Democrats nationally,## including with Hispanic voters, with# whom Trump saw major gains in 2024.

TONY PLOHETSKI: We have seen President Trump's# very aggressive immigration policies.

What we know## is that a lot of those Hispanic voters appear to# be shifting and walking away from the president.

But, in addition to even the immigration issue,## they say is that the president has not delivered# in the way that they were hoping in the economy.

LISA DESJARDINS: Democrats are raising cash# and expectations in a high-stakes year.

INGRID BOND, Voter: I'm hopeful that the country# is going to decide and Texans will decide that## this has gone too far and that there will be# a change in the direction of our policies.

LISA DESJARDINS: But that does not change their## recent reality.

No Democrat has won# statewide in more than 30 years.

TONY PLOHETSKI: There is so much hope# and enthusiasm going into this race that## this may be the time.

But keep in mind,# Democrats in Texas are consistently used## to having their hearts broken.

They think# that, every race, it could happen.

Yes,## there is a path, but that path# is certainly not a straight path.

LISA DESJARDINS: To win, both parties are# pushing the opponent they want.

The governor and## Republican interest groups are sending texts and# ads to boost Crockett.

Speaking with Democrats,## they largely think Paxton gives them the best# chance.

Cornyn, the Republican incumbent, agrees.

SEN.

JOHN CORNYN: If Ken Paxton is at the top of# the ticket, we risk losing the Senate seat, losing## the majority in the House of Representatives, and# it will take the toll on everybody on the ballot.

LISA DESJARDINS: It is a five-way race in# Texas that blares out a signal for 2026.## It will be a rugged and rough road to November.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.