Skip to main content
8 min read
● InformationalElections / Campaigns

With Trump endorsement looming, Cornyn and Paxton prepare for "knife fight" in Senate runoff

Paxton is challenging Cornyn in the runoff and is counting on conservative voters while seeking Hunt’s support.

With Trump endorsement looming, Cornyn and Paxton prepare for "knife fight" in Senate runoff
Image · Yahoo News

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Host credibilityYahoo News75/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026

Credibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

Republished

Republished from Texas Tribune. The relationship between the two publishers has not been determined.

Texas Tribune80/100 HIGH

68 stories · 79–81 · updated Oct 9, 2026

This is Texas Tribune's own score, and this article is credited to Texas Tribune. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.

Yahoo Newsvia Texas Tribune
Mar 4, 2026
tl;dr

John Cornyn and Ken Paxton advanced to a runoff for the Republican Senate nomination in Texas after neither won a majority in the primary. The article describes their competing strategies and how a possible Donald Trump endorsement could affect the contest.

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 in the Texas runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican Senate candidate in the Texas runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate and nominee

U.S. representative and unsuccessful Democratic Senate candidate

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose expected endorsement could influence the runoff

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate Majority Leader who publicly backed Cornyn’s case for Trump’s support

Wesley Hunt
R · TX-38

U.S. representative and third-place finisher in the Republican primary

ALSO MENTIONED  Chris Salcedo, Radio host and critic of Cornyn; Dade Phelan, Former Texas House Speaker; Enrique Marquez, Former chief of staff to former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and Republican strategist; George P. Bush, Paxton’s former runoff opponent; Rick Perry, Former Texas governor who leads a nonprofit supporting Cornyn

Part of a bigger story

26 OUTLETS
Cornyn and Paxton Advance to Texas Senate Runoff

Outlets agree that Ken Paxton and John Cornyn advanced from the Texas Republican Senate primary to a runoff, leaving the nomination undecided. Left-leaning outlets connect Paxton to broader changes in conservative politics and highlight his refusal to leave the race despite Trump's potential intervention. Center outlets emphasize the runoff and uncertainty around Trump's endorsement, with some assessing Republican general-election stakes. Right-leaning outlets focus on Trump's pending choice and its potential effect on the contest, including party unity, campaign costs and competing campaign strategies.

Discussion · 0

What's your take?

Loading comments…