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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Ken Paxton narrowly leads John Cornyn in new poll of Texas' Senate GOP runoff

Paxton leads John Cornyn in a new poll of likely Republican runoff voters.

Ken Paxton narrowly leads John Cornyn in new poll of Texas' Senate GOP runoff
Image · KSAT

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Host credibilityKSAT84/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 7, 2026

Credibility rates KSAT, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

Republished with credit

Republished from Texas Tribune, with credit to the original publisher.

Texas Tribune80/100 HIGH

57 stories · 78–81 · updated Oct 7, 2026

This is Texas Tribune's own score, and this article is credited to Texas Tribune. The host score in the Source Check is KSAT's.

KSATvia Texas Tribune
May 5, 2026
tl;dr

A University of Houston poll found Ken Paxton leading John Cornyn 48% to 45% among likely voters in the May 26 Texas Senate Republican runoff. The article also reports polling in the Republican attorney general and Railroad Commission runoffs.

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

SWIPE →
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican candidate in the Texas U.S. Senate runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Senator and Republican candidate in the Texas U.S. Senate runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate nominee discussed as the possible opponent of either Republican nominee

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President; his potential endorsement is discussed in the Senate runoff

Chip Roy
R · TX-21

U.S. representative and Republican candidate for attorney general

Wesley Hunt
R · TX-38

U.S. representative and former candidate in the Republican Senate primary

ALSO MENTIONED  Aaron Reitz, Former Justice Department lawyer and Paxton deputy; former attorney general candidate; Bo French, Republican candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission; Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas; an endorser of Jim Wright; Jim Wright, Incumbent Texas Railroad Commission member and Republican candidate for reelection; Joan Huffman, State senator and former Republican attorney general candidate; Mayes Middleton, State senator and Republican candidate for attorney general

Part of a bigger story

7 OUTLETS
University of Houston Poll Finds Paxton Leading Cornyn in Texas Runoff

A University of Houston poll put Ken Paxton at 48% and John Cornyn at 45% among likely Republican runoff voters, a gap within the poll’s margin of error. Left-leaning outlets report the narrow poll lead and also highlight reports of donor reluctance and fundraising difficulties. Center outlets present the result as a close or statistically tied contest. Right-leaning outlets report the narrow lead and add Paxton’s campaign ad criticizing Cornyn’s past immigration remarks.

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