GEOFF BENNETT: The midterm elections kicked# off in earnest with contests in Texas,## North Carolina and Arkansas yesterday.

There# was some confusion at the polls, and the results## led to sharp words, a few upsets and more# questions about the elections still to come.

A late night turned into# an early morning in Texas.

STATE REP.

JAMES TALARICO (D-TX), Senatorial# Candidate: We are not just trying to win an## election.

We are trying to fundamentally# change our politics.

And it's working.

GEOFF BENNETT: State Representative James Talarico## won a hard-fought Democratic primary to be# the party's Senate candidate in November.

STATE REP.

JAMES TALARICO: Tonight, the# people of our state gave this country## a little bit of hope.

And a little# bit of hope is a dangerous thing.

GEOFF BENNETT: Defeating# Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett,## who sent her supporters home early# after a day of turmoil at the polls.

REP.

JASMINE CROCKETT (D-TX): I have no# idea of when we're going to get results,## and I fully anticipate it won't be until tomorrow.

GEOFF BENNETT: Rule changes in one of# the state's most populous counties led## to confusion about where voters should cast a# ballot.

A judge extended voting by two hours,## but the state Supreme Court quickly stepped in to# block the ruling, instead ordering late votes to## be separated out and leaving questions# about if they will be counted at all.

Crockett conceded this morning.

And Talarico# now turns his attention to November,## hoping to be the first Democratic senator# elected from Texas in nearly 40 years.## But who he will face is still unknown... SEN.

JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): We are on to the run-off.

GEOFF BENNETT: ... as the most expensive Senate# primary in U.S.

history heads to a run-off.

Republican incumbent John Cornyn,# running for a fifth term, is in## the political fight of his career, narrowly# leading Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

SEN.

JOHN CORNYN: I refuse to allow a flawed,## self-centered and shameless candidate# like Ken Paxton risk everything we have## worked so hard to build over these many# years.

There is simply too much at stake.

GEOFF BENNETT: Paxton, the MAGA-aligned,# scandal-ridden fighter who has challenged## Democratic policies in court, turned# his focus to his primary opponent.

KEN PAXTON (R), Texas Senatorial Candidate: After# all the personal attacks, which there were many,## and after all the lies, you listened to what John# Cornyn was selling and you weren't buying it.

GEOFF BENNETT: The deeply personal battle will## only intensify with a new onslaught of# spending and efforts to gain President## Trump's endorsement before Republican# voters return to the polls in May.

Across Texas, newly drawn congressional maps# led to some big changes.

Republican Dan Crenshaw## is the first incumbent congressman ousted this# midterm year, losing to state Rep.

Steve Toth.

STATE REP.

STEVE TOTH (R-TX),# Congressional Candidate: That was the## White House wishing .. the president's MAGA movement, Crenshaw was the# only incumbent in the state without Mr.

Trump's## endorsement.

Other current lawmakers were forced# into run-offs, including embattled Republican## Tony Gonzales, facing scrutiny after an alleged# affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.

A newly launched Ethics subcommittee will# investigate any potential wrongdoing.## Gonzales will face gun manufacturer# and YouTube star Brandon Herrera## in a district that includes Uvalde.# Democratic Congresswoman Julie Johnson## and former Congressman Colin Allred will# compete for a safe blue Dallas area seat.

REP.

CHRISTIAN MENEFEE (D-TX):# We are in first place tonight.

GEOFF BENNETT: For two Democratic# incumbents competing in the same district,## a tight race remains undecided.# Freshman Christian Menefee,## in office for just over a month, holds# a narrow lead over 11-term Congressman## Al Green in Houston.

But neither has reached# the 50 percent threshold to avoid a run-off.

Meantime, in North Carolina, a potential recount# in the state's bluest congressional district,## with Democratic incumbent Valerie Foushee# leading her challenger by just 1,200 votes.## And in the closely watched Senate race,# both parties had all but cleared the## field for their preferred candidates to fill# the seat of retiring Republican Thom Tillis.

Michael Whatley, the former GOP chair, promised# to stay inside by side with the Trump White House.

MICHAEL WHATLEY (R), North Carolina Senatorial# Candidate: This election is bigger than a primary.## This election is a choice, a choice between a# conservative champion for North Carolina who## will be an ally for President Trump in the Senate# or a champion for the failed policies of the left.

GEOFF BENNETT: While former Democratic Governor# Roy Cooper made his pitch to moderate voters.

FMR.

GOV.

ROY COOPER (D-NC), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE:# I will be a strong independent senator who will## work with this president when I can and# stand up to him when the people need me to.

(CHEERING) FMR.

GOV.

ROY COOPER:## I will always, always put the people of North# Carolina fir.. GEOFF BENNETT: All setting up a# high-stakes showdown in November,## as Republicans work to# maintain their Senate majority.