On Tuesday (May 26), Texas voters will head to the polls for the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate, featuring incumbent Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. The race intensified after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton last week, shifting the dynamics significantly. Trump praised Paxton as a “true MAGA Warrior” in a Truth Social post.
The runoff follows a closely contested primary on March 3, where neither candidate secured over 50% of the vote. Cornyn led with 42% to Paxton’s 40.5%. Despite Cornyn’s longstanding service, including roles as state attorney general and on the Texas Supreme Court, his initial lack of support for Trump’s 2024 presidential run has affected his standing with some Republican voters.
Political analysts suggest that Paxton’s grassroots support and Trump’s endorsement could give him an edge in the runoff. According to Ballotpedia, Paxton’s campaign has focused on his alignment with Trump’s America First agenda, while Cornyn has emphasized his legislative accomplishments and questioned Paxton’s legal and personal controversies.
The runoff’s outcome is crucial, as it will determine the Republican nominee for the general election in November. Early voting began on Monday (May 18) and continues through Friday (May 22), with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. The general election is expected to be competitive, with both Paxton and Cornyn polling closely against Democratic nominee James Talarico.
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