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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Ken Paxton wins Texas Republican Senate runoff after Trump endorsement

Cornyn lost the Republican runoff to Paxton after serving as the incumbent candidate in the contest.

Ken Paxton wins Texas Republican Senate runoff after Trump endorsement
Image · Fox News

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Outlet credibilityFox News70/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
Fox News
May 26, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, winning the nomination after President Donald Trump endorsed him. Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico in a general-election race that could affect control of the Senate.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
John Cornyn R · TX · SEN
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

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

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Senator and defeated Republican Senate-runoff candidate in Texas

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Paxton in the Republican runoff

Trump's version of this story ↗
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate nominee in Texas

Paxton's version of this story ↗

Democratic nominee for Senate in Texas

Representative and former Democratic Senate primary candidate in Texas

Former President whose administration Paxton sued

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Representative from Kentucky

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate Majority Leader who supported Cornyn

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Senator from Louisiana

ALSO MENTIONED  Barack Obama, Former President whose administration Paxton sued

Part of a bigger story

28 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Defeats John Cornyn in Texas Republican Primary Runoff

Outlets agree that Ken Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, winning the GOP nomination. Coverage also notes that Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico in November. Left-leaning outlets cast Trump's endorsement as a potentially costly intervention that could weaken Republican prospects and give Democrats an opening. Center outlets mostly report the result and November matchup, with some attention to Cornyn's response and the race's broader implications. Right-leaning outlets more often treat Paxton's win as evidence of Trump's influence and Trump-aligned voters' strength, with some framing it as a rebuke to the party establishment.

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