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Takeaways from Texas' primaries: Trump's power, Latino vote, redistricting and more

Cornyn lost his Senate primary runoff to Ken Paxton after serving in the seat for 24 years.

Takeaways from Texas' primaries: Trump's power, Latino vote, redistricting and more
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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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194 stories · 84–85 · updated Oct 6, 2026

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May 27, 2026
tl;dr

Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’ Republican Senate primary runoff, setting up a general-election contest with Democrat James Talarico. The article also examines how Trump’s endorsement, Latino voters and redistricting shaped Texas primary races.

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

Republican senator who lost the Texas primary runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate who defeated Cornyn in the primary runoff

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

President whose endorsement of Paxton is presented as a factor in the primary

Trump's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate and Paxton’s expected general-election opponent

Todd Blanche
R · Attorney General

Acting attorney general who met with Senate Republicans

Texas representative who ran against Talarico in the Democratic Senate primary

Texas representative who defeated Al Green in the 18th District primary

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who supported Cornyn and discussed the race

Democratic candidate who lost the runoff in Texas’ 35th District

Julie Johnson
D · TX-32

Texas representative who lost the Democratic runoff in the 33rd District

Sylvester Turner
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former representative whose death is included in Menefee’s succession history

Chip Roy
R · TX-21

Texas representative who lost the Republican runoff for state attorney general

Marc A. Veasey
D · TX-33

Texas representative who decided not to seek reelection in the 33rd District

Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

North Carolina senator cited as another Republican who has broken with the administration

Al Green
D · TX-9

Texas representative who lost the Democratic primary in the 18th District

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator cited as another Republican who has broken with the administration

Sheila Jackson Lee
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former representative mentioned in the history of the 18th District seat

Democratic candidate who won the runoff in Texas’ 35th District

Republican candidate set to face Johnny Garcia in November

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator who endorsed before the runoff and congratulated Paxton

Greg Casar
D · TX-35

Texas representative who chose to run for a different seat

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

Democratic candidate who defeated Julie Johnson in the 33rd District runoff

ALSO MENTIONED  Angela Paxton, Ken Paxton’s then-wife, mentioned in accounts of his campaign and divorce; Bo French, Republican primary winner for Texas railroad commissioner; Dan Patrick, Texas lieutenant governor who endorsed before the runoff and congratulated Paxton; George W. Bush, Former president mentioned as part of Cornyn’s political history; Greg Abbott, Texas governor who endorsed before the runoff and congratulated Paxton; Jim Wright, Incumbent Texas railroad commissioner defeated in the Republican runoff; Mayes Middleton, Texas state representative who defeated Chip Roy in the attorney general primary runoff; Miriam Adelson, Casino magnate identified as a funder of the PAC that supported Jim Wright; Rick Perry, Former Texas governor who campaigned for Cornyn

Part of a bigger story

5 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Defeats John Cornyn in Texas Republican Senate Runoff

Ken Paxton defeated John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, winning the party’s nomination for the Senate race. Center outlets place the result in broader Texas election context, highlighting Trump’s influence and the coming general election, while also noting Paxton’s legal and ethical troubles. Right-leaning outlets frame Paxton’s win as driven by Trump’s personal grievances and emphasize possible costs for Republicans in November.

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