Trump-backed Paxton topples Senator Cornyn in Texas primary run-off
Key takeaways
- Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in Texas race, setting up a November election that could decide control of the US Senate.
- The result, quickly called by Fox News and CNN after polls closed on Tuesday, highlighted Trump’s continuing influence over the Republican Party and dealt a major blow to the party establishment in Washington, DC.
- Cornyn, a longtime establishment conservative and former Republican whip, had represented Texas in the Senate since 2002 and entered the race as the favourite, backed by major donors and senior Republican figures.
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Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in Texas race, setting up a November election that could decide control of the US Senate.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the US Senate, speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Mc Kinney, Texas, the US, on May 19, 2026 [LM Otero/AP]By Elizabeth Melimopoulos and Reuters Published On 27 May 202627 May 2026Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, boosted by President Donald Trump’s endorsement, has defeated four-term US Senator John Cornyn in the Republican Senate primary run-off, according to US media projections.
The result, quickly called by Fox News and CNN after polls closed on Tuesday, highlighted Trump’s continuing influence over the Republican Party and dealt a major blow to the party establishment in Washington, DC.