Ken Paxton Beats Sen. John Cornyn In Texas GOP Primary After Trump's Last-Minute Endorsement
Key takeaways
- Topline Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton beat Sen.
- Paxton was widely expected to win after Trump endorsed him on May 19, after refusing to weigh in during the initial primary in March, when Cornyn finished ahead of Paxton by about one point and another challenger, Rep.
- Since no candidate secured more than 50% of the votes in the initial primary, the contest moved to a runoff.
Topline Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton beat Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday in the heated runoff for the Texas Senate GOP primary, in a race that has divided the Republican Party after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton over the four-term incumbent, bucking many GOP donors and establishment Republicans.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, smiles during a campaign rally at Matt's Rancho Martinez on May 19, 2026, in Allen, Texas. (Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images)The Dallas Morning News via Getty ImagesKey FactsPaxton held 62.5% shortly after the Associated Press called the race, ahead of Cornyn’s 37.5%.
Paxton was widely expected to win after Trump endorsed him on May 19, after refusing to weigh in during the initial primary in March, when Cornyn finished ahead of Paxton by about one point and another challenger, Rep. Wesley Hunt, came in a distant third.