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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Cornyn, Paxton ready to go for the throat in 2nd act of brutal primary campaign

Paxton will continue his Republican primary contest against Cornyn in a runoff scheduled for May 26.

SOURCE CHECK

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Outlet credibilityFox Wilmington62/100 MEDIUM
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026

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Fox News69/100 MEDIUM

1,704 stories · 69.0–69.5 · updated Oct 9, 2026

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Mar 4, 2026
tl;dr

John Cornyn and Ken Paxton will face each other in a Republican Senate primary runoff after neither cleared 50% in Texas’s primary. The article describes competing campaign strategies and the potential influence of a future Donald Trump endorsement.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Ken Paxton R · TX
NOT RATEDCLOSED

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

Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate in the runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican incumbent in the Texas Senate primary runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Texas Senate nominee and potential general-election opponent

Texas representative defeated in the Democratic Senate primary

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose possible endorsement is described as a factor in the runoff

Mitch McConnell
R · KY · SEN

Kentucky senator invoked by a Paxton supporter as a contrast with the MAGA faction

Wesley Hunt
R · TX-38

Texas representative who dropped out of the Republican Senate contest

Part of a bigger story

26 OUTLETS
Cornyn and Paxton Advance to Texas Senate Runoff

Outlets agree that Ken Paxton and John Cornyn advanced from the Texas Republican Senate primary to a runoff, leaving the nomination undecided. Left-leaning outlets connect Paxton to broader changes in conservative politics and highlight his refusal to leave the race despite Trump's potential intervention. Center outlets emphasize the runoff and uncertainty around Trump's endorsement, with some assessing Republican general-election stakes. Right-leaning outlets focus on Trump's pending choice and its potential effect on the contest, including party unity, campaign costs and competing campaign strategies.

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