In an internal GOP primary vote organized by the incumbent Super PAC, Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) is trailing state attorney general Ken Paxton, raising concerns about his re-election prospects.
According to a report from Punchbowl News on Monday, Cornyn is behind Paxton by 16 points, with the poll showing 56% for Paxton and 40% for Cornyn. As the primary race expands to include three candidates, with Representative Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) considering a run, Paxton holds 44% support, compared to Cornyn’s 34% and Hunt’s 19%.
This poll was conducted by the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), an organization focused on safeguarding incumbent Republican senators and boosting GOP representation in Congress.
Cornyn seems to be facing significant challenges in the Senate primary, especially from Paxton, as highlighted in earlier internal polls. This data comes from a group that backs Cornyn.
The escalating primary competition between Cornyn and Paxton underscores a broader divide within the party: those like Cornyn, who are seen as traditional conservatives, versus the hardliners who align closely with former President Trump’s agenda.
Paxton criticizes Cornyn as being insufficiently supportive of Trump, while Cornyn has distanced himself from Paxton’s legal troubles and controversies. In response, Cornyn emphasizes that his voting record aligns nearly perfectly with Trump’s positions.
“Senator Cornyn has a 99% voting record with Trump and continues to collaborate closely with him,” said Matt McCowiac, a senior adviser for the Cornyn Campaign, addressing the poll’s findings. “In the coming months, when Texas GOP voters fully evaluate both candidates’ records, we are confident in our victory.”
The poll results also examined a potential match-up in the general election against Democrat Colin Allred, who previously lost a Senate race to Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and is contemplating another bid.
Cornyn performed best in that hypothetical scenario, leading by six points, while Hunt and Paxton were behind by four and one point, respectively.
“The numbers reveal the truth. John Cornyn is in a much stronger early position than Ken Paxton,” noted SLF Communications Director Chris Gustafson. “Texans need to scrutinize Paxton’s track record carefully; his potential to jeopardize a Senate majority for the GOP is concerning.”
Punchbowl also mentioned that Trump’s approval rating in Texas is only two points above the state average, hinting at a softer voter sentiment.
The opinion poll was conducted from April 27th to May 1st.
