Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is consolidating Republican support after defeating four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in a decisive Republican Senate primary, setting up a high-profile general election battle in Texas.
Paxton defeated Cornyn with more than 60% of the vote, delivering a major upset against the Senate GOP’s long-serving member. The victory came after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton last week, boosting the attorney general after the two candidates spent weeks running neck and neck in polling.
Republicans quickly rallied behind Paxton following the race call, framing the result as a sign of party unity heading into November.
“A steadfast conservative fighter for Texas, he has led the charge on securing the border, defending our constitutional freedoms, and advancing the conservative principles that have made Texas the strongest and most prosperous state in the nation,” Republican Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows posted on X.
“With so much at stake for our state and our country, Republicans are united and ready for the fight ahead,” Burrows added. “Looking forward to supporting Ken Paxton as we work to protect the values and freedoms that make Texas exceptional.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee immediately turned its focus toward Democratic nominee James Talarico, painting him as too far to the left for Texas voters.
“A state President Trump won by nearly 14 points isn’t going to elect James Talarico,” NRSC regional press secretary Samantha Cantrell said in a statement. “Texas isn’t swapping brisket for open borders.”
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) also backed Paxton after the primary, calling on Republicans to unite behind the nominee.
“The voters have spoken, now Republicans must unite and win,” Moreno said. “Make no mistake: Ken Paxton will beat him in November and crush the dreams of the out-of-state billionaires propping up his campaign.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) congratulated Paxton on what he called a “resounding victory,” predicting the attorney general would become Texas’s next U.S. senator.
The race now shifts to a closely watched general election matchup between Paxton and Talarico, who immediately sought to frame the contest as a referendum on corruption and the political establishment.
“Something just happened in Texas,” Talarico said in a Thursday evening statement after the race was called. “The most corrupt politician in America just became the Republican nominee for the United States Senate.”
Talarico pointed to Paxton’s 2023 impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House, accusing him of using “his public office to enrich himself and his donors at the expense of the people.”
“If we, the people, can come together to defeat the most corrupt politician in America, we can defeat this entire corrupt system,” Talarico said.
The Democrat also extended an olive branch to Cornyn supporters after the bruising GOP primary.
“I want to thank Senator John Cornyn for his years representing our state,” Talarico said. “We don’t agree on everything, but we both still believe in public service. To Senator Cornyn’s supporters: you have a place in our campaign.”
Some Democrats argued Paxton’s nomination could create a costly and politically difficult race for Republicans as the party works to defend its Senate majority in 2026.
“This will cost Republicans the Senate,” one Republican strategist said, arguing the GOP may be forced to spend heavily in Texas instead of defending vulnerable seats elsewhere.
Cornyn, meanwhile, struck a reflective tone in his concession speech, thanking his family and emphasizing his decades of public service.
PAXTON BEATS CORNYN IN HIGH-PROFILE TEXAS SENATE GOP RUNOFF
“I’ve spent most of my time in the Senate building the Republican Party in Texas and in the U.S. Senate, and I’ve always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election,” Cornyn said.
“I’ve said throughout this race that I trust the voters of Texas,” he added. “They made their decision, and you and I must respect it.”
Cornyn also praised his wife and daughters, calling public service “an honorable calling” despite the toll politics can take on families.
