Ken Paxton Defeats John Cornyn in Texas GOP Senate Runoff
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has defeated longtime Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate, according to multiple media reports Tuesday.
The result marks one of the most significant Republican primary upsets of the 2026 election cycle. Cornyn had represented Texas in the Senate since 2002 and was backed by several prominent Republican establishment figures during the race.
Paxton, a polarizing but influential figure in Texas conservative politics, ran as a more confrontational candidate aligned with the party’s populist wing. The race became a proxy battle over the future direction of the Texas GOP and the broader Republican Party nationally.
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The victory could reshape Senate Republican politics heading into the general election and may reinforce the growing influence of hardline conservative candidates in Republican primaries.
The final certified vote totals were not immediately available in the reporting referenced at publication time.
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