Austin, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton decisively defeated longtime Sen. John Cornyn in Tuesday’s Republican Senate runoff, marking another major victory for President Donald Trump as he continues reshaping the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 elections.
With more than 95% of votes counted early Wednesday, Paxton led Cornyn by roughly 64% to 36%, according to Decision Desk HQ. Trump endorsed Paxton in the final days of the race after repeatedly criticizing Cornyn for insufficient loyalty during previous political battles.
The race became one of the most expensive House or Senate primaries in Texas history, with millions of dollars pouring in from pro-Trump groups, conservative organizations, and pro-Israel political action committees supporting Paxton.
Paxton now advances to a high-profile general election matchup against Democrat James Talarico, who Democrats hope can capitalize on Paxton’s long history of legal controversies and ethics investigations. The Cook Political Report shifted the race toward Democrats following Paxton’s victory, though Republicans remain favored in Texas statewide races.
The runoff also highlighted growing divisions within the Republican Party between establishment conservatives and Trump-aligned populists. Cornyn’s defeat follows recent losses by other Republican incumbents who had clashed with Trump, including Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Thomas Massie.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
