Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated four-term incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, clinching the GOP nomination in a major shift for Texas politics.
Paxton cruised to victory with roughly 64% of the vote as polls closed across the state, according to the Associated Press and multiple news organizations. The contest, held statewide with early voting concluding May 22, drew national attention as the latest example of President Donald Trump’s influence in Republican primaries. Trump endorsed Paxton in the final week, helping the attorney general overcome significant spending by groups supporting Cornyn.
The runoff stemmed from the March 3 primary, where neither candidate cleared 50%. Cornyn, who had served in the Senate since 2002 and previously as Texas attorney general, led slightly in the initial round but could not hold off Paxton’s challenge from the right. Paxton positioned himself as a staunch America First conservative, emphasizing border security, loyalty to Trump, and criticism of the Washington establishment.
In his victory speech Tuesday night in Plano, Paxton thanked supporters and Trump while looking ahead to the general election. He will face Democratic nominee James Talarico, a state representative from the Austin area who won his party’s primary in March. Talarico has framed the race as a battle against corruption and for working Texans.
The outcome marks the end of Cornyn’s long Senate career and underscores divisions within the Texas GOP. Political observers note the race could influence national Senate control, though Texas remains a strongly Republican state. Turnout details and final certified results will come from the Texas Secretary of State’s office in the coming days.
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