Trump-backed Ken Paxton wins Texas Senate primary runoff over John Cornyn

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a decisive victory over four-term Republican Senator John Cornyn in the state’s GOP Senate primary runoff, setting the stage for a high-stakes general election against Democratic state Representative James Talarico. Paxton won with 64% of the vote to Cornyn’s 36%, a 27-point margin that surprised many political observers and underscored the enduring influence of former President Donald Trump within the Republican Party.

Trump’s endorsement, announced just a week before the runoff, was widely credited with swinging the race in Paxton’s favor. Despite Cornyn’s record of voting with Trump over 99% of the time, the senator had expressed doubts about Trump’s electability after his first term. Trump publicly criticized Cornyn for not supporting him during difficult times and praised Paxton as a “true MAGA Warrior” loyal to his agenda.

Cornyn, who has served in the Senate for 24 years and was previously the No. 2 Senate Republican, was seen by many establishment Republicans as a stronger candidate to face Talarico in November. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described Cornyn as a “principled conservative” and “very effective senator for the state of Texas,” but acknowledged that one state does not determine the national outcome.

Paxton’s nomination complicates the Senate landscape. Republicans hold a narrow 53-seat majority and face challenges in defending seats in states won by Trump in 2024. The Cook Political Report shifted Texas from “likely Republican” to “leaning Republican” following Paxton’s victory, signaling increased competitiveness.

Paxton’s political career has been marked by controversy. Since becoming Texas attorney general in 2014, he has aggressively sued the Obama and Biden administrations, including filing over 100 lawsuits against the latter. He also pursued legal efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in several battleground states, which were ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court.

In 2015, Paxton was indicted on securities fraud charges, which were dropped in 2024 through a pre-trial diversion agreement. In 2023, the Texas House impeached him on charges including bribery and dereliction of duty, allegations he denies. The state Senate acquitted him, but his office must pay at least $6.7 million to whistleblowers. The Biden Justice Department quietly ended an investigation into Paxton in its final days.

Paxton has sought to portray Talarico as a far-left candidate, using nicknames such as “James Tala-freak-o” and criticizing his past remarks on gender and religion. Talarico acknowledged some past comments “missed the mark” but accused Paxton of using them to distract from his own “career of corruption.”

The race highlights the growing importance of Latino voters in Texas, who now constitute about 40% of the state’s population. Trump made historic gains with Hispanic voters in 2024, winning roughly 55% in Texas, but Democrats have increased turnout in key areas like the Rio Grande Valley. Polling shows Talarico holds a sizable advantage among Latino voters, with cost-of-living concerns ranking above immigration.

Downballot races also reflected broader political shifts. In the Republican primary runoff for Texas attorney general, Mayes Middleton defeated U.S. Rep. Chip Roy by emphasizing loyalty to Trump. Former Tarrant County Commissioner Bo French won the GOP runoff for railroad commissioner, focusing his campaign on fighting “DEI, overbearing regulation, and the influence of radical Islam and the Chinese Communist Party in Texas oil.”

Democratic primaries saw incumbent Rep. Al Green lose to Rep. Christian Menefee in a member-versus-member contest, while former Rep. Colin Allred unseated first-term Rep. Julie Johnson in a separate runoff. These contests were influenced by mid-decade redistricting that reshaped several districts, forcing incumbents into new or more competitive territories.

The election cycle has also been marked by allegations of antisemitism. Democratic candidate Maureen Galindo lost a runoff after making controversial statements about Zionists, which drew condemnation from both parties. On the Republican side, Bo French faced criticism for social media posts perceived as anti-Jewish.

Overall, Tuesday’s Texas primaries underscored the continuing dominance of Trump’s influence in Republican politics, the evolving dynamics of Latino voter engagement, and the internal conflicts within both parties as they prepare for the November general election.