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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Ken Paxton wins Texas primary election: Results and key takeaways

Paxton won the Republican Senate nomination in Texas and will face James Talarico in November.

Ken Paxton wins Texas primary election: Results and key takeaways
Image · Al Jazeera

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Outlet credibilityAl Jazeera79/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
May 27, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Texas, defeating incumbent John Cornyn by about 28 percentage points. The article also reports results from several other Texas primary runoffs and describes how the contests may shape the November elections.

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VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Ken Paxton R · TX
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No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Paxton in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Paxton’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate who won the Texas primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Democratic Senate candidate who will face Paxton in November

Democratic representative whose Senate campaign led Allred to leave that race

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Paxton and criticized Cornyn

Democratic representative and runoff winner against Al Green

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative mentioned as another Republican incumbent who lost a primary

Democratic congressional candidate defeated by Garcia

Julie Johnson
D · TX-32

Democratic representative defeated by Allred in the runoff

Representative who opposed Galindo’s candidacy

Sylvester Turner
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former representative whose seat Menefee won in a special election

House Minority Leader who opposed Galindo’s candidacy

Al Green
D · TX-9

Democratic representative who lost his primary runoff

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator mentioned as another Republican incumbent who lost a primary

Representative who criticized Galindo’s comments

Democratic House candidate who won the district’s primary runoff

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator whom Allred unsuccessfully challenged in 2024

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican senator defeated by Paxton in the primary

Colin Z. Allred
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Democratic House candidate who won his primary runoff

Part of a bigger story

40 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Wins Republican Senate Runoff in Texas

Outlets agree Ken Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, winning the party’s Senate nomination. They report he will face Democrat James Talarico in November. Left-leaning outlets focus on Paxton’s victory speech, including his remarks about transgender youth and the criticism they drew, while one warns Trump’s role could complicate Republicans’ efforts to hold the seat. Center outlets mostly report the result and November matchup, with some coverage examining the race’s competitiveness and scrutiny facing Paxton. Right-leaning outlets cast the win as a boost for Trump-aligned Republicans and a setback for the party establishment.

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