Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday cruised to victory in the high-profile Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate seat from Texas over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
Paxton was projected the winner by the Associated Press an hour after polls closed with 62.5% of the vote, compared to 37.5% with 45% of ballots counted.
🚨BREAKING: 🟥Ken Paxton is the projected winner of the Republican primary runoff for US Senate in Texas.
Paxton has served as Texas attorney general since 2015 and was endorsed by President Trump to defeat incumbent “RINO” Senator John Cornyn*.
He will face off against… pic.twitter.com/rQrlpW7p7u
— Election Time (@ElectionTime_) May 27, 2026
Cornyn has been in office for 23 years and quickly conceded defeat.
Cornyn concedes alongside his family, reflecting on 40 years and 18 consecutive elections, now capping his career in public office. He vows to support the Republican ticket. pic.twitter.com/BcpF016zoX
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) May 27, 2026
Paxton, who was outspent by Cornyn 9-to-1, will now face Democrat James Talarico in the general election in November, as Talarico previously defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democrat primary.
🚨 NOW: “KEN PAXTON has won the runoff primary against Sen. John Cornyn.”
BILL HEMMER: “ENDORSEMENTS on behalf of Donald Trump MATTER.”
“30 POINT SWING.”
“The FLIP in these counties is extraordinary from 2.5 months!”
The only difference? TRUMP ENDORSED PAXTON
Block SAVE… pic.twitter.com/0z5Zjv3NXY
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 27, 2026
One week ago, as WorldNetDaily reported, Paxton received an important endorsement from President Donald Trump, who said he has “seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a WINNER!”
“Ken is a Strong Supporter of TERMINATING THE FILIBUSTER and, very importantly, THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, something which polls at 87%, including Dumocrats, and yet can’t seem to get approved. Perhaps Ken can help move these important elements of Government forward because with the Filibuster, as an example, the Democrats will terminate it on their First Day in Office, giving us two extra States, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and a greatly enlarged Supreme Court of the United States, probably going with their Dream Number of 21 Justices from the 9 that we currently have – And these new Justices will be Radical Left Lunatics!”
Paxton also had the backing of U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who finished third in the Republican primary with only 13% of the vote.
Trump said that “Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough and, despite having the Most Successful Economy in the History of our Country during my First Term and, with all of the many other things that I accomplished (Secure Border, Military Dominance, Space Force, All Time High Stock Markets and 401(k)s, Record Job and Economic Growth, and so many other things that would be impossible to readily list!), which are considered by many to be legendary, John was very late in backing me in what turned out to be a Historic Run for the Republican Nomination, and then, the Presidency, itself, both of which were Landslide Victories and, more importantly, gave us the Country that we have today — THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA … .”
🔥 KEN PAXTON JUST SHOOK THE GOP ESTABLISHMENT.
Texas voters sent a message loud and clear: the MAGA base is DONE with weak Republicans who talk tough and fold in DC.
Tune into @ABC now as I break down why this race really matters. pic.twitter.com/aAQLuKtx24
— Mehek Cooke🇺🇸 (@MehekCooke) May 27, 2026
Trump has now endorsed eight governors, 103 House representatives and nine Senate candidates in 2026 races, with a 100% success rate.
LMFAO! John Cornyn’s “watch party” tonight is TINY
There’s only room for about 50 chairs, and the campaign confirms Cornyn will NOT be with supporters tonight, but instead will be hiding and monitoring results “privately.”
He KNOWS it’s over 🤣
PAXTON FOR SENATE! 🇺🇸🔥 pic.twitter.com/le2IpQ71Y9
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 26, 2026
🚨 WOW! NBC’s Kornacki is VISIBLY STUNNED at the strength of the MAGA endorsement tonight, Ken Paxton is absolutely “CLOBBERING” John Cornyn
“OH MY GOODNESS, if you are Paxton, you are joyous. If you’re Cornyn, YOU ARE NOT.”
Dallas County just came in. Supposed to be a Cornyn… pic.twitter.com/GsPdbeTVUG
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 27, 2026
CNN spoke with two Texas Republican Voters.
One says she was going to vote for Cornyn but is going to vote for Paxton instead because she likes whoever Trump backs.
The other says he is specifically voting for Cornyn because Trump endorsed Paxton: I think he’s ruined my… pic.twitter.com/7fTXIl4a47
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 26, 2026
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‘This is a new ballgame’: Trump finally makes powerful endorsement in tight Texas Senate race
