As the saying goes, everything’s bigger in Texas. That includes congressional primaries.

The March 6 elections will be the first primary contests of 2018, and the initial tests of first-time candidates running for Congress — Democrats competing in newly targeted seats and Republicans vying to replace outgoing GOP lawmakers.

Early voting begins Feb. 20, and for many of these races, the primaries won’t end on March 6. If no candidate wins a majority of votes, the top two contenders head to a May 22 runoff.

Outside groups

Both parties’ campaign committees have been hesitant (at least publicly) to take sides in the Texas primaries, opening the door for outside groups looking to shape the contests. A number of groups on both sides have already weighed in, and some strategists expect even more involvement in the runoffs.

There has been more activity on the Democratic side, particularly with EMILY’s List backing five candidates — including in three races that are top Democratic targets. The influential group backs female Democrats who support abortion rights, and an endorsement can connect candidates to its vast network of donors.