Ken Paxton Crushes John Cornyn In Texas GOP Senate Runoff After Trump Endorsement
Ken Paxton scored a decisive victory Tuesday in Texas’ Republican Senate runoff, defeating incumbent John Cornyn just one week after securing a high-profile endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Paxton’s win marks another major demonstration of Trump’s influence over Republican primary voters, following recent defeats suffered by Bill Cassidy and former Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie after clashes with the president and MAGA-aligned voters.
The Texas attorney general will now face James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, in the November general election. Talarico advanced after defeating Jasmine Crockett during the Democratic primary.
Cornyn initially edged Paxton in the March 3 primary, but neither candidate crossed the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff. Trump declined to endorse at that stage, keeping the race competitive until his late backing of Paxton shifted momentum dramatically.
The Senate contest has become one of the most expensive statewide primaries in American history, with more than $110 million reportedly spent on advertising and campaign activity. A majority of outside spending went toward supporting Cornyn, who was heavily backed by Senate Republican leadership and establishment donors.
Despite support from John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Cornyn struggled to overcome dissatisfaction among conservative grassroots voters who viewed him as insufficiently aligned with Trump’s agenda.
Paxton campaigned heavily on his record of filing lawsuits against the Biden administration, highlighting battles over immigration, gun rights, and federal regulations. He framed himself as a fighter for conservative causes and repeatedly emphasized his support for Trump.
Still, Paxton heads into the general election carrying significant political baggage. The Texas attorney general has faced years of controversy, including a securities fraud indictment that was later dismissed and a 2023 impeachment trial over allegations involving abuse of office and whistleblower retaliation. He survived removal by a narrow vote in the Texas Senate.
Polling heading into the runoff suggested a potentially competitive general election battle between Paxton and Talarico, though Republicans have not lost a Texas Senate race since 1988.
Cornyn’s defeat effectively ends his bid for a fifth Senate term and signals another major victory for Trump as he continues reshaping the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterms.