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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Texas Senate Race Downgrades to Lean Republican After Paxton Win

Cornyn lost the runoff to Paxton, setting up a different Republican nominee for November.

Texas Senate Race Downgrades to Lean Republican After Paxton Win
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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026
Newsweek
May 27, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in Texas’s Republican Senate runoff, prompting Cook Political Report to downgrade the general-election race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican.” The report cited Paxton’s controversies and fundraising record, though a political science professor said he still saw Paxton beating Democrat James Talarico.

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VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
John Cornyn R · TX · SEN
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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.

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People in this story

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John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican incumbent defeated by Paxton in the Senate primary runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate who won the Texas primary runoff

Paxton's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate nominee facing Paxton in November

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Paxton

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Republican congressman who lost a primary race

Libertarian Senate candidate in Texas

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Republican senator who lost a primary race

J.D. Vance
Vice President of the United States

Vice President and Senate tiebreaker mentioned in a discussion of party control

Part of a bigger story

69 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Defeats John Cornyn in Texas Senate Runoff

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