Cornyn seeks a Texas miracle as Paxton pulls away
by Jared Gans - 05/26/26 7:21 AM ET
Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) will attempt today to do what most Republicans this year have been unable to: win a primary in the face of President Trump’s opposition.
The four-term senator expressed confidence Sunday that he would prevail in his primary runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, warning that his opponent would lose the seat to Democrat James Talarico.
But pollsters and betting markets are giving Cornyn long odds after Trump endorsed Paxton for the Senate seat last week.
“Ken Paxton was a GREAT Attorney General, probably the best in the Country. He was also very loyal to your favorite President, ME, as the Dumocrats played their ultimate game of Weaponization, and failed, BADLY!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Cornyn put up impressive numbers in the March primary as he faced two right-wing opponents who argued he wasn’t sufficiently loyal to the president. The incumbent placed first with 42 percent of the vote, closely followed by Paxton.
But Cornyn was unable to win a majority, forcing Tuesday’s primary runoff against Paxton, a MAGA diehard. Trump reportedly weighed endorsing Cornyn, under intense pressure from Senate Republicans, who see the former GOP whip as a far better general election candidate.
Paxton’s edge widened over the past two weeks in the Decision Desk HQ polling average and shot up to 15 points as of Thursday, two days after Trump endorsed him. Betting markets Kalshi and Polymarket give Paxton greater than a 95 percent chance of becoming the Republican nominee.
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https://thehill.com/newsletters/morning-report/5894626-john-cornyn-ken-paxton-texas-senate-race/
