Paxton and Cornyn face off in heated Texas Senate runoff today
By Easton Martin | May 26, 2026
Texas voters returned to the polls today for a highly competitive primary runoff election to determine whether four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn or state Attorney General Ken Paxton will claim the Republican nomination for the United States Senate.
The special Tuesday election follows a crowded March 3 primary where neither candidate reached the 50 percent threshold required to secure the nomination. Cornyn narrowly led the initial round with 42.5 percent of the vote, while Paxton followed closely behind with 41 percent. Because runoff elections traditionally draw a smaller, highly motivated subset of the electorate, political analysts note that today’s turnout relies heavily on the state’s core conservative activists.
The contest has evolved into one of the most expensive and bitterly contested primary battles in Texas political history. Total ad spending by the campaigns and their affiliated satellite groups has exceeded 90 million dollars. Cornyn used his substantial fundraising advantage and two decades of Senate experience to outspend Paxton significantly on television and digital media, drawing heavily from traditional Republican networks. The campaign has centered heavily on a fundamental disagreement regarding the future direction of the state party.
Cornyn has focused his message on electability and legislative effectiveness. He argued that Paxton carries significant political vulnerability due to his recent legal battles, including a 2023 impeachment by the Texas House that ultimately resulted in an acquittal by the state Senate. Cornyn warned that a Paxton victory could force the party to spend millions of dollars defending a reliably red seat in November instead of focusing resources on competitive national battlegrounds.
Paxton built his campaign around aggressive stances on border security, federal overreach, and cultural issues, appealing directly to the grassroots base of the party. He argued that his supporters represent the core energy of the party and are better positioned to mobilize voters who typically skip midterm or non-presidential elections.
Paxton received a major boost just last week when Donald Trump officially endorsed his candidacy, calling him a true warrior for the movement.
