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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Paxton dominates Cornyn in Texas US Senate runoff, the latest sign of Trump's hold on GOP

Cornyn conceded the runoff after losing the nomination and said he would support Paxton in the general election.

Paxton dominates Cornyn in Texas US Senate runoff, the latest sign of Trump's hold on GOP
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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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May 27, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’s Republican Senate runoff, winning the nomination after President Donald Trump endorsed him. The result adds to a series of Republican primary victories by Trump-backed challengers and sets up a general-election race against Democrat James Talarico.

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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.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator defeated in the Republican Senate runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Texas attorney general and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate

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

President who endorsed Paxton and sought to unseat Cornyn

Trump's version of this story ↗

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas

Newly elected representative and Democratic nominee in Texas’ 18th District

Democratic candidate defeated in the primary for Texas’ 35th District

Julie Johnson
D · TX-32

Representative defeated in the Democratic primary for Texas’ 33rd District

Al Green
D · TX-9

Representative defeated in the Democratic primary for Texas’ 18th District

Democratic nominee for Texas’ 35th District

Republican nominee for Texas’ 35th District

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator mentioned as the Republican who defeated Allred in a prior Senate race

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

Former representative and Democratic nominee in Texas’ 33rd District

John Lujan
R · TX

Republican candidate defeated in the primary for Texas’ 35th District

Part of a bigger story

67 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Defeats John Cornyn in Texas Senate Runoff

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