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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

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

Paxton won the Republican Senate nomination after a runoff against incumbent John Cornyn.

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

Credibility rates Wyoming Public Media, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

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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

This is NPR's own score, and this article is credited to NPR. The host score in the Source Check is Wyoming Public Media's.

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
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

SWIPE →
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate nominated in the Texas runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Incumbent Republican senator defeated in the party primary

Cornyn's version of this story ↗
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 ↗

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

40 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Wins Republican Senate Runoff in Texas

Outlets agree Ken Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, winning the party’s Senate nomination. They report he will face Democrat James Talarico in November. Left-leaning outlets focus on Paxton’s victory speech, including his remarks about transgender youth and the criticism they drew, while one warns Trump’s role could complicate Republicans’ efforts to hold the seat. Center outlets mostly report the result and November matchup, with some coverage examining the race’s competitiveness and scrutiny facing Paxton. Right-leaning outlets cast the win as a boost for Trump-aligned Republicans and a setback for the party establishment.

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