MAGA candidate's win in Texas primary may also help Democrats in Senate battle

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a decisive victory over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in Tuesday’s Republican runoff primary, ending Cornyn’s 23-year congressional career, including 12 years as a Senate GOP leader. The race, the most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history, was closely watched as Trump endorsed Paxton late in the campaign, citing Cornyn’s perceived disloyalty over voting reform efforts. Paxton’s win reflects Trump’s influence over the Texas conservative base, which favored his populist stance over Cornyn’s establishment ties. Paxton, 62, has already begun targeting his Democratic opponent, state legislator James Talarico, in TV ads portraying him as a ‘left-wing extremist.’ Polls suggest a tight general election in Texas, a state that last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 1988. Democrats see Paxton as the weaker candidate and hope to flip the seat, which could help them regain Senate control for the final two years of Trump’s potential presidency. Cornyn, 74, lost despite leading the first round in March with 42.5% to Paxton’s 40.8%, requiring a runoff. Trump’s delayed endorsement of Paxton, who faced personal and political scandals, shifted momentum in his favor. Cornyn, a Trump ally, had initially resisted endorsing the president’s 2024 bid but remained loyal to GOP leadership. His defeat follows Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy’s recent primary loss to a Trump-backed challenger, marking the first time two incumbent senators lost in the same cycle since 1976. Trump congratulated Paxton on Truth Social, calling him a ‘fantastic, common sense senator,’ while praising Cornyn’s career. Analysts note the victory aligns with Trump’s strategy of backing primary challengers to reshape the GOP, though Paxton’s win may also signal Texas conservatives’ preference for fiery populists over veteran politicians. The November race remains critical, with Democrats eyeing a potential Senate shift in a historically Republican state.