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Paxton, Cornyn head to Texas GOP runoff after Wesley Hunt finishes third

Cornyn advanced to a runoff against Ken Paxton after neither candidate topped 50% in the Republican primary.

Paxton, Cornyn head to Texas GOP runoff after Wesley Hunt finishes third
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This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026
Fox News
Mar 3, 2026
tl;dr

John Cornyn and Ken Paxton will face each other in a May runoff for the Texas Republican Senate nomination after neither topped 50% in the primary; Wesley Hunt finished third. The article also reports an unresolved Democratic primary and voting problems in parts of Texas.

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

SWIPE →
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican Senate candidate advancing to the Texas runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate advancing to the Texas runoff

Paxton's version of this story ↗
Wesley Hunt
R · TX-38

Republican Senate candidate who finished third in the Texas primary

Hunt's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate whose primary remained uncalled

Democratic Senate candidate whose primary remained uncalled

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who stayed neutral in the Republican primary

Mitch McConnell
R · KY · SEN

Senator referenced in a donor's description of the Republican contest

Former president referenced in Paxton's criticism

ALSO MENTIONED  Alex Latcham, Executive director of a super PAC supporting Cornyn; Charlie Kirk, Late conservative activist referenced in connection with a Paxton endorsement; Chris LaCivita, Republican strategist who consulted for a Cornyn-aligned super PAC; Dan Eberhart, Republican donor who supports Paxton; Joanna Rodriguez, NRSC communications director who commented on the Senate race; Tony Fabrizio, Pollster who helped the Cornyn campaign

Part of a bigger story

32 OUTLETS
Cornyn and Paxton Advance to Texas Senate Runoff

John Cornyn and Ken Paxton advanced from Texas’s Republican Senate primary to a runoff for the party’s U.S. Senate nomination. Left-leaning outlets present the runoff mainly as an election result. Center outlets focus more on the contest’s stakes, candidate strategies and Trump’s pending endorsement. Right-leaning outlets emphasize the race’s combative character, with pjmedia.com arguing Paxton is the stronger Republican choice.

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