Cornyn and Paxton Flood Texas Airwaves Before Senate Runoff/ Newslooks/ Washington/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Texas Republicans are heading into a high-stakes Senate runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton with little public campaigning but nonstop television advertising. Former President Donald Trump intensified the race by endorsing Paxton and criticizing Cornyn’s loyalty. More than $109 million has been spent in one of the nation’s most closely watched Republican Senate contests.
Texas Senate Runoff Quick Looks
- Texas GOP runoff voting ends Tuesday.
- Cornyn and Paxton held few final public events.
- Advertising spending surpassed $109 million.
- Trump endorsed Paxton during early voting.
- Trump criticized Cornyn as “disloyal.”
- Cornyn allies heavily outspent Paxton supporters.
- Paxton ads now focus almost entirely on Trump backing.
- GOP voters nationwide increasingly favor Trump allies.
- Democrats nominated state Rep. James Talarico.
- Race could reshape Texas Republican politics.
Deep Look
Texas GOP Senate Runoff Nears Finish
Texas Republicans are preparing to vote Tuesday in a closely watched runoff election between longtime U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Despite the significance of the race, both candidates largely disappeared from public campaign events during the final stretch, instead relying heavily on television advertising and outside political groups to drive turnout.
The contest has become one of the most expensive Senate primaries in Texas history.
Massive Advertising Blitz Dominates Campaign
The runoff has been defined by an overwhelming wave of television and digital advertising.
Combined spending by campaigns and affiliated super PACs has surpassed $109 million, with Cornyn-aligned groups spending far more overall than Paxton supporters.
Political observers described the final days as an all-out media war.
“It’s just a slug fest,” said former Texas Republican Party executive director Wayne Hamilton.
Although Cornyn’s network historically outspent Paxton allies by nearly nine-to-one, that gap narrowed considerably as the runoff approached.
Trump Endorsement Changes Final Days
The biggest late development came when Donald Trump endorsed Paxton on May 19, only days before early voting concluded.
Trump followed the endorsement with repeated attacks on Cornyn, accusing the senator of insufficient loyalty.
Paxton, Trump wrote online, “was also very loyal to your favorite President, ME,” while labeling Cornyn “VERY disloyal.”
The endorsement immediately became the centerpiece of Paxton’s advertising strategy.
Cornyn Emphasizes Conservative Record
Cornyn’s campaign continued airing ads highlighting his support for Trump-backed policies and his conservative voting record in the Senate.
At the same time, Cornyn allies intensified attacks against Paxton over:
- Ethical controversies
- Personal scandals
- Legal investigations
- Questions surrounding his conduct as attorney general
Paxton has faced years of political and legal scrutiny in Texas but has maintained strong support among many conservative Republican voters.
Paxton Focuses on Trump Loyalty
Paxton’s campaign largely abandoned broader messaging in favor of emphasizing Trump’s endorsement during the campaign’s final week.
Outside groups supporting Paxton also aired ads targeting Democratic nominee James Talarico, signaling that Republicans are already preparing for the general election.
The runoff reflects a broader national pattern in which Republican primary voters increasingly reward candidates closely aligned with Trump.
Trump Influence Reshapes GOP Primaries
Trump’s criticism of Cornyn mirrors attacks he recently directed at other Republican incumbents viewed as insufficiently loyal.
The former president previously targeted Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy before Cassidy lost his own Republican primary earlier this month.
Similar trends have emerged in other states, including Indiana and Kentucky, where Trump-backed challengers defeated incumbent Republicans who opposed portions of his agenda.
Few Public Appearances Before Election Day
Neither candidate scheduled major public campaign events for the runoff’s final day.
Cornyn instead attended a longstanding non-campaign event in San Antonio honoring students entering military academies.
Paxton concluded his campaign appearances earlier in the week with stops in Austin and San Antonio before largely shifting focus entirely to media outreach.
Turnout Could Determine Outcome
Analysts expect turnout to remain relatively low compared with Texas’ nearly 19 million registered voters.
That dynamic could benefit whichever candidate more successfully energizes highly motivated Republican voters.
Trump’s endorsement may prove particularly influential among conservative base voters who remain strongly aligned with the former president.
Democrats Already Eyeing General Election
The eventual Republican nominee will face Democrat James Talarico in November.
Texas remains a Republican-leaning state, but Democrats continue attempting to make gains in suburban areas and among younger voters.
The GOP runoff outcome may also signal the future direction of Texas Republican politics as Trump’s influence continues reshaping the party.
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