Retired NASA astronaut Terry Virts, a self-described “common sense Democrat,” officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 Texas Senate race on Monday, setting the stage for a potentially dynamic primary and general election. In a video posted to X, Virts invoked his experience in space to declare that “down here, Trump’s chaos must be stopped,” signaling a direct challenge to the influence of President Donald Trump.
Virts, a former International Space Station (ISS) commander, also took aim at Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a prominent primary challenger to incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn. Virts labeled Paxton “corrupt,” alleging that “MAGA wants” the Attorney General in the Senate.
These comments follow Paxton’s impeachment by the Texas House of Representatives in 2023 on allegations of corruption, although the Texas Senate later acquitted him.
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Notably absent from Virts’s initial announcement was any direct mention of Senator John Cornyn, the current occupant of the seat. Polls have consistently shown Cornyn trailing Paxton by significant margins in the Republican primary race. Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in the GOP primary.
In a move that appears to mirror strategies employed by other Democratic Senate candidates in key races, Virts also seemed to criticize his own party’s Senate leader, Chuck Schumer. The astronaut described “leadership” as “MIA,” while simultaneously showing a clip of Schumer chanting, “We will win.”
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Should Virts secure the Democratic nomination and win the general election, he would join a select group of former Democratic NASA astronauts who have successfully transitioned from space to the Senate. Democratic Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who flipped his state’s Senate seat in 2020 by defeating incumbent Republican Martha McSally, is a prominent example. Kelly and Virts shared a joint breakfast event with the National Press Club in 2015, though Kelly has not yet endorsed a candidate in the Texas race.
Virts’s announcement video leaned heavily on his background as an astronaut and his service as an Air Force officer, concluding with the declaration, “I’m Terry Virts, I’m running for U.S. Senate and I’m ready for my next mission.”
His entry into the race comes as the Democratic Party faces ongoing challenges in attracting male voters and contends with perceptions of weakness. For example, recent polling data indicates a widening gender gap in political affiliation among young voters. While young women have largely maintained or increased their Democratic affiliation, the share of young men identifying as Democratic or leaning Democratic has notably declined. For instance, Gallup polling showed young men’s Democratic affiliation dropping from 51% in 2008 to 38% by 2023. In some recent polls, roughly as many young men identify as Republican (29%) as Democrat (32%).
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Currently, Virts is the only well-known declared Democratic candidate in the 2026 Texas Senate race. However, former Democratic Texas Representative Colin Allred, who ran unsuccessfully against Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz in 2024, is reportedly considering another Senate bid, potentially setting up a contested Democratic primary.
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