Sen. Cornyn Warns of Risks in Texas Senate Primary
Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) has issued a cautionary note to fellow Republicans in Texas about the potential ramifications of supporting Attorney General Ken Paxton. He argued that backing Paxton could allow Democrats to secure a Senate seat in Texas for the first time in three decades.
“A vote for Ken Paxton could be disastrous for the Republican Party in November 2026,” Cornyn expressed, emphasizing the stakes involved. His remarks came during a recent campaign tour across Texas as early voting kicked off.
Currently, Cornyn is facing a competitive three-way primary race against Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), which he needs to navigate to secure his own position.
In response, Paxton’s advisor, Nick Maddux, noted that Paxton had won the 2022 election by a significant margin, claiming that enthusiastic Republican voters would rally behind him again in 2026. Maddux criticized Cornyn, labeling him as the “worst possible option” and suggesting that his presence in the race could turn off Texas voters.
With the primary looming in under two weeks, Cornyn urged voters to consider the broader implications of their choices, potentially affecting Republican dominance in Texas. He pointed out that the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in Texas was back in 1994. On the flip side, Democratic candidates like Representatives Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico are eyeing the possibility of flipping their respective seats.
“If Paxton’s the nominee, I truly believe he’s at risk of losing his seat,” Cornyn articulated, adding that, should he win, it would likely be by a very narrow margin, which wouldn’t bode well for other Republicans on the ticket.
Despite the traditional trajectory of midterm elections being a referendum on the sitting president, Cornyn felt that a Paxton win in the primary could hinder Republican chances across the board. Meanwhile, former President Trump has not yet endorsed anyone in the primary, stating that he appreciates all three candidates. Cornyn acknowledged that Trump has a vested interest in the Texas elections, especially with five new congressional seats open.
