Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Triumphs in Senate Runoff
In a surprising turn of events, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won a Senate runoff election on Tuesday, defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn. This victory came just a week after receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Paxton secured his win with a significant 25-point lead, garnering 62.5% of the votes compared to Cornyn’s 37.5%. The Associated Press noted that the vote count rate was approximately 57%. Since neither candidate achieved a majority in the primary, the race went to a runoff.
In the primary held on March 3, Cornyn had a slight edge over Paxton, winning by about 1.5 percentage points. However, he fell short of the majority necessary to avoid a runoff. Notably, Cornyn received backing from prominent Texas politicians like former Governor Rick Perry and current Representative Michael McCaul.
Endorsements for Paxton also came from Texas Representative Wesley Hunt, who narrowly missed advancing from the primary, and Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Trump.
Both candidates sought Trump’s support, but ahead of the runoff, Trump publicly backed Paxton and suggested Cornyn should step aside. Polls before the election indicated Paxton held a notable 9-point lead over Cornyn, with figures showing 51% to 42.7% in Paxton’s favor.
Interestingly, Paxton remarked that he would continue his campaign regardless of Trump’s endorsement. Trump, on the other hand, expressed that it was “bad” for Cornyn to remain in the race, suggesting that it might influence his future decisions.
Despite earlier expectations that Trump would support Cornyn, reports indicated a change in direction. Cornyn, for his part, didn’t commit to supporting Paxton if he lost the runoff, having previously criticized Paxton’s ethical standings. Paxton, however, countered with concerns over Cornyn’s age, calling him too old for another term.
Throughout his career, Paxton has faced numerous ethical controversies. In 2023, the Texas House of Representatives impeached him on 20 charges, alleging abuse of power linked to a real estate donor. Ultimately, the Senate acquitted him in September of that year.
Complicating matters, Paxton has been involved in personal issues, including allegations of infidelity that led to his wife, Senator Angela Paxton, filing for divorce in July 2025.
This electoral result reflects the shifting landscape within the Republican Party, especially amid endorsements and controversies surrounding figures close to Trump. It remains to be seen how these dynamics will influence future elections and party unity.
