Real America’s Voice: War Room Texas Election Coverage – March 3, 2026

Episode Overview

This special episode of “WAR ROOM” on Real America’s Voice, hosted by Steve Bannon with Grant Stinchfield and a rotating panel including Jack Posobiec, Cliff Maloney, Ben Berkhwam, Richard Barris, and more, delivers live, wall-to-wall coverage of the pivotal 2026 Texas primary elections. The focus is on the high-stakes U.S. Senate Republican primary, Proposition 10 (barring Sharia law in Texas), and an array of consequential state contests, all set against the backdrop of Texas’ critical role in the national political landscape. The episode is marked by real-time election updates, on-the-ground reporting, raucous debate, and pointed cultural commentary.

Main Themes

• Texas as the Battleground for America’s Future: The hosts repeatedly underscore Texas as the "crown jewel" not only for conservatives, MAGA, and Republican hopes in 2026, but for the future of the nation at large.
• The Historic Senate Primary: The Cornyn vs. Paxton vs. Hunt race is described as the most expensive Republican Senate primary ever, and as a litmus test for MAGA strength and grassroots party control.
• Proposition 10 – Sharia Law Ban: The show gives heavy attention to the GOP primary ballot measure to prohibit Sharia law in Texas, contextualized through both national security and identity politics frames.

Key Segments & Timestamps

1. Setting the Stakes: Texas, Prop 10, and "The Holy War"

[03:33 – 12:35]

• Steve Bannon opens by declaring, “As Texas goes, so goes the nation. As the nation goes, so goes the world.”
• Panel discusses the “jewel of the crown of the union” and how the fight over Sharia law and immigration shapes the character of the state and country.
• Notable quote:
  • Steve Bannon: “Take your Sharia law and shove it. Islam will never dominate the United States… it will not dominate Texas.” [03:12]
• Election night dynamics previewed: the $100M+ GOP Senate race; Prop 10; the AG and Comptroller contests; key U.S. House districts.

2. Election Night Kicks Off: Security Incident & Primary Mechanics

[04:47 – 15:02]

• Ben Berkhwam reports suspicious activity at the Paxton HQ (car full of ammo, body armor, suspect arrested).
  • “It was enough for the police to take action and remove him, arrest him, and remove his vehicle. Everyone’s on heightened alert with the recent terror attacks...” – Ben Berkhwam [05:48]
• Grant Stinchfield and Bannon contextualize: “You’re going to get some of the most conservative and, in many respects, anti-government people... It could be innocuous.”
• Explanation of Texas’ open primary system, potential for party “shenanigans,” and the ground rules for runoffs.

3. Early Returns, Voting Issues, and Senate Primary Horse Race

[17:01 – 25:53]

• Technical problems, confusion over voting hour extension in Dallas; Democrats (but not Republicans) given two extra voting hours. “They’ve changed the rules of the game and just gave themselves another couple of hours in... the biggest city in Texas to run up the score...” – Steve Bannon [25:53]
• Cliff Maloney analyzes early returns: Cornyn under-performing in Tarrant County, a GOP stronghold. Race shaping up as Cornyn 46%, Paxton 37%, Hunt 13%.
• Concern about live returns dissuading late voters, likely legal challenges.

4. Inside the Numbers: MAGA vs. Establishment, Early Voting Trends

[28:16 – 35:31]

• Discussion of early voting favoring Democrats, possible “Trump derangement syndrome” mobilizing the left.
• Cornyn’s struggle to break 50%, Paxton gains. Stinchfield: “He [Paxton] was the best AG we had at a state level, if not the history of America, certainly modern time legendary.” [10:49]
• Open vs. closed primaries revisited – concerns over “Democrats playing shenanigans with themselves.”

5. Prop 10: Sharia Law Ban and Demographic Battles

[55:46 – 71:00; 120:06–122:45]

• Panel repeatedly invokes threat of “Islamic invasion” and need to assert Christian values:
  • Tommy Robinson (UK anti-Sharia activist) describes “white flight” due to Muslim newcomers; “Don’t end up like Britain or France... Immigration is supposed to benefit the United States, not change its culture.” [97:29–101:28]
• Vote on Prop 10 is overwhelming: “95% YES.”
  • Bannon on Prop 10: “Texas should prohibit Sharia law: widely, indeed overwhelmingly, crushes... It sets the stage for what’s to come across the country as well.” [133:17]
• Panel asserts legal and illegal migration as coordinated Democratic voter importation.

6. Major Race Results: MAGA Surge & Establishment Setbacks

[35:31 – 55:32; 64:01 – 65:00; 120:16 – 127:10]

• Senate Race: Cornyn 43–45%, Paxton 39–41%; Hunt 13% – headed to a runoff. “$100 million spent and you still can’t get to 50%? That should tell you what time it is. Go home, spend time with your grandkids.” – Richard Barris [130:14]
• AG Race: Mays Middleton & Chip Roy headed to a runoff; “MAGA Maze” branding victorious over establishment.
• Comptroller: Don Huffines, Trump-endorsed, winning with 62%.
• TX-2 U.S. House Race: Steve Toth (MAGA/Turning Point-backed) projected to defeat incumbent Dan Crenshaw (establishment) by a double-digit swing: “Dan Crenshaw never had the backs of MAGA; he called it ‘angertainment’... down goes Crenshaw.” – Grant Stinchfield [126:51–129:03]
• TX-23: Tony Gonzalez in danger from the right; Brandon Herrera surging on Election Day votes due to recent scandal.

7. Democratic Races & Party Dynamics

[48:04 – 77:49; 138:54 – 153:12]

• Dem Senate primary: James Talarico overtakes Jasmine Crockett after late voting extension for Dallas. “Jasmine Crockett is already saying they stole it from her... election denial.” – Steve Bannon [86:18]
• Crockett’s loss and grievance described as “prime example of Leftist hypocrisy” (claims of “theft” after consistently criticizing GOP as election deniers).
• Panel analyzes Hispanic, Black, and White early voting divides; “Trump derangement syndrome” as central motivation for Dem turnout.
• Redistricting produces runoffs between Democratic incumbents (Colin Allred vs. Julie Johnson).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the stakes of Texas:

  • “Texas is not for sale.” – Ken Paxton, victory speech [163:44]
  • “If Texas goes blue, you're not going to control the House of Representatives. You're not going to win any more presidential elections.” – Steve Bannon [42:18]

• On the Prop 10 Sharia Law ban:

  • “This is a referendum... Vote against Sharia is a referendum for Texans to decide what they want.” – Tommy Robinson [99:49]
  • “Obviously there can only be one law in this country that is U.S. law. That is American law. We cannot have Sharia law.” – Jack Posobiec [65:00]

• On GOP infighting and runoff stakes:

  • “...all the money may be on his [Cornyn’s] side, but the people are on our side. And in Texas, the people always win.” – Ken Paxton [165:42]
  • “There’s a 30% chunk of Texas grassroots that will not vote for Cornyn under any circumstances.” – Richard Barris [117:19]

• On Dan Crenshaw’s defeat:

  • “Dan Crenshaw called it ‘angertainment’...down goes Crenshaw. Huge swing...” – Cliff Maloney [120:15]

• Call to arms for the grassroots:

  • “Who are the people that are going to show up in a lower turnout runoff election? The hardcore patriots. But it’s our job to do the work to actually make them realize how important this is.” – Cliff Maloney [138:54]
  • “Every day you wake up is the day to fight for America.” – Ben Berkhwam [174:18]

Data/Results Snapshots

| Race/Measure | Leading Candidate(s) / Result | % In | Notable Points | |---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------|------------------------------------------------------| | U.S. Senate GOP Primary | Cornyn ~43%, Paxton ~41%, Hunt ~13% | ~70% | Goes to runoff Paxton vs. Cornyn | | TX AG | Mays Middleton, Chip Roy (runoff) | ~65% | “MAGA Maze” leads | | Comptroller | Don Huffines (Trump-endorsed) ~62% | 80%+ | Abbott/Kelly Hancock defeated | | Prop 10 (Ban Sharia Law) | 95% YES (GOP ballot only) | 95%+ | Overwhelming support | | TX-2 (US House) | Steve Toth defeats Dan Crenshaw (57-39%) | 58% | Turning Point/TPUSA-backed | | TX-23 (US House) | Tony Gonzalez ~47%, Brandon Herrera ~39% | early | Close, delayed by scandal, likely further tightening | | Dem Senate Primary | Talarico ~53%, Crockett ~46% | ~40% | Crockett claims “rigged,” after Dallas got extra hrs.|

Takeaways & Analysis

MAGA and Grassroots Power

• Paxton’s near-win against Cornyn despite being outspent 20:1 is seen as a validation of the MAGA grassroots.
• “Rhino hunting” night: Crenshaw’s defeat is held up as a warning to other establishment-aligned officeholders.

Prop 10 as Culture War

• GOP base in Texas overwhelmingly backs anti-Sharia proposition.
• Framed as both symbolic and practical – with warnings about Muslim immigration, “white flight,” and demographic destiny.

Runoff Showdowns to Come

• Senate and AG runoffs set up “bloodbaths” – establishment will spend even more, but momentum and turnout base seen as favoring populists in low-turnout runoffs.
• Both campaigns expected to get even more negative, which panel acknowledges could leave nominee bloodied for general election.

Democratic Overperformance and Tensions

• Dems see early voting spike and potential statewide aggregate turnout win as “blood in the water” – could prompt new investment in Texas by national Dems.
• Panel dismisses lasting threat, invokes history of Dem “victory laps” (Wendy Davis, Beto O’Rourke) never materializing into statewide wins.

Final Calls to Action

• The right must mobilize for the runoffs: “Triple down” for turnout, face an establishment spending onslaught head-on.
• The “soul of Texas” is said to be in the balance – with control of the U.S. Senate, and country, hanging in the outcome.

Representative Ken Paxton’s Victory Speech Highlights ([163:44–173:51])

• Framing contest as outsider vs. establishment, “Texas is not for sale.”
• Attacks Cornyn on border, guns, Trump loyalty, lack of Texas achievements.
• Asserts that runoffs favor insurgents and pledges to unite party for the general election.
• Direct call for grassroots mobilization: “Knock on doors, make the calls, help your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers, get involved in the movement to take this seat back from the swamp and return it to the people of Texas.”

Panel Closing Thoughts ([174:09–178:42])

• Berkhwam: “Every day is a day to fight for America – the fight’s just beginning.”
• Stinchfield: “Great day for MAGA... Paxton will be victorious in the runoff if we show up.”
• Maloney: “It’s going to be a mix of paid doors, volunteers, precinct captains – every single vote matters.”
• Posobiec: “Dan Crenshaw going down, propelled by turning point action, proves you have to stay true to your district and to MAGA.”
• Bannon: “Texas goes, so goes the nation... 95.5% YES on Prop 10 speaks volumes. The nation will be watching.”