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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Texas Republicans nominate Ken Paxton for Senate seat, ousting incumbent John Cornyn

Cornyn lost the Republican Senate nomination after warning that Paxton could hurt the party in November.

Texas Republicans nominate Ken Paxton for Senate seat, ousting incumbent John Cornyn
Image · Wyoming Public Media

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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Republished from NPR, with credit to the original publisher.

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70 stories · 89–90 · updated Oct 6, 2026

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tl;dr

Texas Republicans nominated Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a costly Senate primary, setting up Paxton to face Democrat James Talarico in November. President Donald Trump’s endorsement was a prominent factor in the race.

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 Republican senator defeated in the party primary

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement of Paxton was a factor in the Republican primary

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

Republican Senate candidate nominated in the Texas runoff

Paxton's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate nominated in March

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader, mentioned in a brief career comparison

ALSO MENTIONED  Angela Paxton, Texas state senator and Ken Paxton’s estranged wife

Part of a bigger story

69 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Defeats John Cornyn in Texas Senate Runoff

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