Trump-backed Ken Paxton beats incumbent John Cornyn in GOP primary runoff for Texas Senate seat

Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Texas GOP primary runoff for the U.S. Senate seat, securing Donald Trump’s endorsement last week as a key factor in his victory. Paxton, who has faced legal troubles including a felony securities fraud indictment, will now advance to the November general election against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. Cornyn, a longtime Senate leader, had maintained near-perfect alignment with Trump’s agenda but lost despite his loyalty, reflecting shifting dynamics in the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms. The runoff was part of broader Texas primary contests, including a Democratic incumbent-on-incumbent clash in the 18th Congressional District, where first-term Rep. Christian Menefee defeated veteran Rep. Al Green. Other Texas House runoffs saw victories for Colin Allred in the 33rd District and Johnny Garcia in the 35th District for Democrats, while Carlos De La Cruz won the Republican runoff in the 35th District. Paxton credited Trump’s endorsement as decisive, calling it ‘the most powerful force in politics.’ Cornyn had attempted to counter criticism by posting supportive messages about Trump on social media, but his decades-long tenure failed to insulate him from the challenge. The result underscores the influence of Trump’s backing in Republican primaries, even against established figures. Talarico, the Democratic nominee, framed the November race as a battle against Paxton’s perceived corruption, vowing to represent Texas beyond partisan divides. The election marks a pivotal moment for Texas politics, with implications for Senate control ahead of the 2026 elections. Meanwhile, South Carolina’s Republican-led Senate rejected a congressional redistricting measure opposed by Trump, while Trump himself visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for medical and dental exams, his third checkup in over a year.