Ken Paxton Beats John Cornyn in Texas GOP Primary
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- Ken Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in a Republican runoff primary, becoming the GOP nominee for the Texas U.S. Senate seat.
- John Cornyn finished first in the March primary with 42.5% of the vote but fell short of the 50% threshold, leading to the runoff.
- Donald Trump publicly endorsed Paxton, calling Cornyn “very disloyal” and rallying his populist base behind the challenger.
- Texas GOP primary set a record as the costliest Senate primary in U.S. history, with Paxton outspent by a 9‑to‑1 margin yet still prevailing.
- James Talarico will face Paxton in the November general election, a contest that could determine whether Democrats regain Senate control for the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
Why it matters: Paxton gains the Senate ticket, while Cornyn loses a rare primary defeat; Democrats see a viable chance to flip a seat, potentially shifting Senate balance and influencing legislation in Trump’s final term.
