Cornyn Faces Tough Texas Runoff Against Trump-Backed Paxton/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Texas Republicans head to the polls Tuesday in a bitter Senate runoff between longtime Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton late in the race, intensifying a costly battle centered on loyalty and conservative influence. The runoff is viewed as another major test of Trump’s grip over Republican primary voters nationwide.
Texas Senate Runoff Quick Looks
- Texas Republicans vote Tuesday in a major Senate runoff.
- Trump endorsed Ken Paxton late in the race.
- John Cornyn risks becoming first Texas GOP senator to lose renomination.
- Campaign spending topped tens of millions of dollars.
- Cornyn allies heavily attacked Paxton in advertisements.
- Paxton focused campaign messaging on Trump loyalty.
- Democrats will nominate James Talarico for November election.
- Turnout concerns remain after Memorial Day weekend timing.
- Trump recently backed several successful GOP challengers nationwide.
- Texas House Democratic runoff races are also on the ballot.
Deep Look
Texas GOP Senate Runoff Becomes National Loyalty Test
Texas Republicans are deciding one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests as voters choose between longtime incumbent John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton in Tuesday’s runoff election.
The bitter primary battle has evolved into another test of the political influence of Donald Trump inside the Republican Party.
Trump’s endorsement of Paxton late in the campaign dramatically shifted momentum and increased pressure on Cornyn, a four-term senator seeking renomination.
Trump Backs Paxton Over Cornyn
Trump endorsed Paxton after early voting had already begun, giving the attorney general a late boost among conservative Republican voters.
“Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to win,” Trump wrote in a social media post endorsing him. “Our Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness.”
The endorsement represented Trump’s latest effort to challenge Republican incumbents he considers insufficiently loyal.
Cornyn acknowledged the endorsement’s significance but vowed to continue fighting.
“I know who gets to choose our senators, and it’s the people of Texas,” he said hours after Trump’s announcement.
Cornyn Faces Historic Risk
If defeated, Cornyn would become the first Republican senator in Texas history to lose his party’s nomination while seeking reelection.
Despite years of political experience and strong establishment backing, Cornyn has struggled to fully align himself with Trump’s political movement.
Trump criticized Cornyn in his endorsement, saying the senator “was not supportive of me when times were tough” and that “John was very late in backing me.”
Cornyn previously questioned Trump’s ability to win another presidential election in 2024 and earlier criticized Trump’s border wall proposal before later supporting it.
Expensive and Bitter Campaign
The runoff became one of the most expensive Senate primaries in Texas history.
Cornyn’s campaign and allied super PACs reportedly spent roughly $90 million on advertising since last year, much of it attacking Paxton over ethical controversies and personal scandals.
The campaign highlighted issues including:
- Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial
- Allegations involving extramarital affairs
- Questions about ethics investigations
- Criticism of the attorney general’s office
Paxton survived impeachment proceedings and has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, Paxton’s campaign leaned heavily on Trump’s endorsement and loyalty messaging aimed at conservative grassroots voters.
Turnout Could Determine Outcome
Republican strategists believe turnout may ultimately decide the race.
Only about 2 million of Texas’ 18.7 million registered voters participated in the initial GOP primary.
Some analysts believe the highly negative tone of the campaign could further suppress turnout.
Texas Republican strategist Tyler Norris said:
“The defining battle lines are based around hyper-negative messaging, which dampens turnout to begin with. So who is going to show up is the hardest of the hard core.”
That dynamic could favor Paxton, whose support is concentrated among Trump’s most loyal Republican base.
Another Trump Retribution Campaign
The Texas runoff follows several recent Republican primaries where Trump successfully targeted GOP incumbents or critics.
Trump recently backed challengers against Republicans in:
- Louisiana
- Kentucky
- Indiana
He also attacked Republicans who criticized him over issues including the January 6 Capitol attack and the Jeffrey Epstein investigations.
The pattern has reinforced Trump’s continued dominance among Republican primary voters heading into the 2026 midterm cycle.
Democrats Prepare for November
The runoff winner will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in the November general election.
Republican leaders have privately worried that a Paxton nomination could force the party to spend significantly more money defending the seat in the general election.
Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to reclaim majority control.
Other Texas Runoffs Also Underway
Texas voters are also deciding several key Democratic House nominations Tuesday.
Important races include:
- Texas’ 18th Congressional District in Houston
- Texas’ 33rd Congressional District in Dallas
- Texas’ 35th Congressional District near San Antonio
The races follow major redistricting changes approved by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature last year.
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