Sima Ladjevardian and Elisa Cardnell were the top candidates in the three-way Democratic race to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

A Houston-based lawyer and former Beto O'Rourke adviser, Ladjevardian was a late entrant to the primary. She took nearly 48 percent of the vote — narrowly missing the 50 percent threshold that would have made her the nominee, according to results posted at 1:45 a.m. with more than 90 percent of the vote tallied.

Cardnell, a Navy veteran, had about 31 percent of the vote.

Attorney Travis Olsen came in third place, with about 20 percent of the vote.

The Associated Press declared Ladjevardian and Cardnell would advance to a May 26 runoff.

The winner will get a tough fight in the general election against Crenshaw, the retired Navy SEAL and rising star in the Republican Party, who has amassed a hefty warchest for his reelection campaign.