The Texas runoff for the Republican U.S. Senate was a nailbiter, but the results have spoken.
With 60 percent of precincts reporting, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn 62 to 38 percent to become the official Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Read More: Breaking: GOP Headed for a Runoff in Texas Senate Primary
Cornyn Caves to Trump, Admits SAVE America Act More Vital Than Filibuster As He Courts Endorsement
It was a battle between Texas grassroots vs. D.C. establishment, with Paxton as the anti-incumbent favorite for many across the Lone Star state. But it was President Donald Trump's late endorsement of Paxton on May 19 that truly gave him the leg up over Cornyn, pulling his candidacy across the finish line. Congressman Wesley Hunt (TX-38), who also ran for U.S. Senate in the March 3 Texas primary, also threw his electoral weight behind Paxton. The lion's share of Hunt's voters followed suit.
This Senate primary is the most expensive on record in American history, with $120 million spent in advertising alone. That number includes $21 million spent in the runoff. Cornyn outspent Paxton 3-to-1.
JD Vance's Response to Trump Dropping Cornyn Like a Hot Rock Is Really a Message From the Voters
After the March 3rd Texas primary ended in a runoff between Cornyn and Paxton, Cornyn courted Trump's endorsement and made efforts to moderate his language to appear more pro-Trump and less Republican establishment. Even on Tuesday morning, Cornyn still made the case that he is a Trump ally, despite the lack of endorsement.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) defended his MAGA bona fides in a final-hour pitch to Texas primary voters on Tuesday, portraying himself as an “ally” of President Trump who has consistently supported the administration’s agenda.
“I’m proud of the fact that we confirmed hundreds of justices, including three new Supreme Court justices. I was the whip, or the chief vote counter, during his first term when we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and the Working Family Tax Cuts Act,” Cornyn said during a morning appearance on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.”
“So, I’ve been an ally of the president,” he added, according to comments highlighted by NBC News. “He’s called me a friend. I understand he’s made his choice … but only Texans get a chance to vote in this primary.”
Polling ahead of the runoff leaned toward a Paxton win, with some poll numbers projecting wide margins. This became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Dive Deeper: James Talarico Hoisted by His Own Words in New PAC Ad Supporting Ken Paxton
Hot Seat: James Talarico Feels the Heat for Helping Tank Texas Bill That Targeted Criminal Illegals
After 23 years of holding this Senate seat without much challenge, John Cornyn has been primaried, suffering the same fate as his colleague, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Paxton is officially the Republican nominee and will face his opponent, Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico, in November.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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