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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Senate GOP leaders spent months trashing Paxton. Can they turn the page and unify against Talarico?

Paxton won the Republican runoff and now faces questions about whether party leaders and Cornyn’s supporters will back him.

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Outlet credibilityThe Gilmer MirrorNOT RATED
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Cites Texas Tribune

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Texas Tribune79/100 HIGH

48 stories · 78–81 · updated Oct 6, 2026

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The Gilmer Mirrorcites Texas Tribune
May 27, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff by nearly 30 percentage points, setting up a general-election race against James Talarico. The article examines whether Republican leaders and Cornyn’s supporters will unite behind Paxton after months of attacks and what that could mean for the race.

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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

Republican Senate candidate and winner of the Texas Republican runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Democratic Senate candidate opposing Paxton

Talarico's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who said he planned to hold rallies for Paxton

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who backed Cornyn and spoke with Paxton after the runoff

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator who endorsed Paxton and offered campaign assistance

Beto O'Rourke
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former Texas Senate candidate mentioned as a comparison to Talarico

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Incumbent senator defeated by Paxton in the Republican runoff

Part of a bigger story

40 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Wins Republican Senate Runoff in Texas

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