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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Ken Paxton swamps John Cornyn in Texas GOP Senate runoff after securing Trump endorsement

Cornyn lost his bid for the Republican nomination and said he would support Paxton in the general election.

Ken Paxton swamps John Cornyn in Texas GOP Senate runoff after securing Trump endorsement
Image · New York Post

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Outlet credibilityNew York Post65/100 MEDIUM
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
May 26, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’s Republican Senate runoff, winning the nomination after President Trump endorsed him. Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico in the general election.

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 who lost the Republican runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement of Paxton preceded the runoff

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

Texas Republican Senate candidate who won the party’s runoff nomination

Paxton's version of this story ↗

Democratic nominee who will face Paxton in the general election

Texas representative who lost the Democratic primary

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative mentioned as a recent election loss

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who was among those urging Trump to endorse Cornyn

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator mentioned as a recent election loss

ALSO MENTIONED  Lloyd Bentsen, Former senator cited as the most recent Texas Democrat elected to the Senate

Part of a bigger story

77 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Wins Texas Republican Senate Runoff Over John Cornyn

Ken Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, securing the GOP nomination after President Donald Trump endorsed him. Paxton is set to face Democrat James Talarico in November. Left-leaning outlets frame the result as part of a shift toward Trump-aligned conservatives, with some highlighting Paxton’s controversies; center outlets emphasize the outcome, Trump’s influence and the November race; right-leaning outlets often cast it as a victory for the MAGA base over the GOP establishment.

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