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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

The Latest: Ken Paxton wins Senate primary runoff in Texas, defeats incumbent Sen. John Cornyn

Cornyn lost the Republican Senate nomination to Paxton after serving four terms in the Senate.

The Latest: Ken Paxton wins Senate primary runoff in Texas, defeats incumbent Sen. John Cornyn
Image · The Northern Virginia Daily

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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Republished from Associated Press, with credit to the original publisher.

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457 stories · 96–97 · updated Oct 5, 2026

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The Northern Virginia Dailyvia Associated Press
May 27, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff, setting up a November race against Democrat James Talarico. The result also drew attention to President Donald Trump’s influence over Republican primaries.

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

Incumbent Texas senator defeated in the Republican Senate runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate who won the runoff

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

President whose endorsement of Paxton and influence in Republican primaries are discussed

Trump's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate who will face Paxton in November

Texas representative whose Senate candidacy was announced as Allred left his bid

Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker of the House referred to in a political organization’s criticism

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative who lost his primary

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who endorsed Cornyn

Democratic House candidate who lost the primary to Johnny Garcia

Julie Johnson
D · TX-32

Texas representative defeated by Allred in a House primary

Washington representative who weighed in on remarks by Maureen Galindo

House minority leader who criticized remarks by Maureen Galindo

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator whose primary result is cited in a discussion of Trump’s influence

Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Louisiana representative and Trump-backed Senate candidate mentioned in a primary comparison

Tim Scott
R · SC · SEN

Senator and NRSC chair who endorsed Cornyn

New York representative who criticized Maureen Galindo’s remarks

Democratic candidate who won the primary for Texas’ 35th U.S. House District

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator who endorsed Paxton and criticized Talarico

Republican House candidate who defeated Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary

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

Former Texas congressman referenced in a voter’s comparison of candidates

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

Former Texas representative who ran for Senate and then returned to a House race

ALSO MENTIONED  Angela Paxton, Texas state senator and Ken Paxton’s wife, whose endorsements did not include his Senate race

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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