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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Cornyn tries to hold on to Texas Senate seat in runoff with Paxton, the latest test of Trump's power

Cornyn lost the Republican nomination to Paxton after serving in the Senate since 2002.

Cornyn tries to hold on to Texas Senate seat in runoff with Paxton, the latest test of Trump's power
Image · New Haven Register

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Outlet credibilityNew Haven Register85/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Original publisher not identified

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New Haven Registeroriginal publisher not identified
May 27, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, winning the nomination after President Donald Trump endorsed him. The result also included several U.S. House primary runoffs in 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

Texas senator and Republican Senate candidate who lost the runoff

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

Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate who won the runoff

Paxton's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate nominee in Texas

Representative and Democratic primary winner in Texas’ 18th District

Democratic candidate who lost the primary for Texas’ 35th District

Julie Johnson
D · TX-32

Representative who lost the Democratic primary runoff in the Dallas-area 33rd District

Al Green
D · TX-9

Representative who lost the Democratic primary in Texas’ 18th District

Democratic primary winner for Texas’ 35th District

Republican primary winner for Texas’ 35th District

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator mentioned as the opponent Allred lost to in a previous Senate race

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

Former representative and Democratic primary winner in the Dallas-area 33rd District

John Lujan
R · TX

Republican candidate who lost the primary for Texas’ 35th District

Part of a bigger story

79 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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