On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated his highly anticipated bid for the 2026 Senate race with plans to run against Senator John Cornyn. This sets the stage for an intensely competitive and costly primary battle, which many worry might weaken Republican chances in the general election.
Paxton, a prominent advocate for President Donald Trump who was cleared in 2023 during an impeachment trial by the Republican-controlled state Senate, positioned himself akin to Texas Senator Ted Cruz when he announced this via a Fox News interview.
It's certainly time for a shift in Texas," Paxton stated. "We've got an outstanding U.S. senator with Ted Cruz. Now, what we really need is another strong senator who will genuinely advocate for Republican principles, defend the values of Texans, and back Donald Trump.
Paxton’s declaration paves the way for what is expected to be a challenging contest against Cornyn, an incumbent senator who has been in office for a long time and only recently gained support from Senate Majority Leader John Thune This occurred after Cornyn finished second last year to Thune in the race to succeed Senator Mitch McConnell as the leader of the chamber.
Surveys indicate that Paxton garners greater backing from highly conservative voters, typically those who turn out in large numbers during primaries. However, running an aggressive campaign aimed at the far-right might prove costly for both contenders and potentially alienate moderate supporters in the general election. Each candidate will be vying fervently for an endorsement from Trump, as his approval could significantly sway opinions across the state.
On the Democratic side, Colin Allred, a previous congressional representative and ex-professional footballer who lost to Cruz in the prior election, is "actively contemplating" entering the race. as reported by the Dallas Morning News .
Over the years, Cornyn and Paxton have had multiple disagreements, with Cornyn criticizing Paxton for his legal troubles, while Paxton has attacked the senator for what he perceives as inadequate backing of Trump.
Paxton stated on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle that Cornyn has not been effective.
He has experienced 24 years of this, which I believe is quite enough considering his limited output," Paxton stated. "It’s challenging to recall any significant contributions he has made to Texas or the nation.
Minutes after his announcement, Cornyn's campaign criticized the Texas attorney general in a statement shared on X .
Ken Paxton is deceitful, The Cornyn campaign stated in an announcement on Tuesday. He speaks harshly about crime yet allows corrupt progressive Lina Hidalgo to go unpunished. He claims his impeachment trial was fraudulent but did not challenge the allegations in his legal documents, resulting in significant costs for the state. Despite positioning himself as against woke culture, he allocates millions from taxpayers' money to attorneys who promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Paxton was charged with corruption by the Texas House in 2023 and subsequently faced an impeachment process, but he was later exonerated by the state Senate.
The Attorney General, who has faced criminal investigations for years He now faces charges including bribery following an investigation which revealed he leveraged his position to assist Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, who was both a friend and supporter.
Paxton and Cornyn had a disagreement. One notable interaction from last year sticks out. , regarding the senator's support for a $95 billion international assistance budget.
Ken, your criminal defense attorneys are trying to reach you, Cornyn hit back on X .
Cornyn’s campaign challenged the idea that he lacks effectiveness as a supporter of Trump in the Senate.
His first term saw Senator John Cornyn aligning with President Trump over 95 percent of the time, matching the support levels higher than most current senators. As whip, he ensured backing for Trump’s key achievements," the campaign stated. "The Democrats aim to undermine President Trump, but Texans require a seasoned conservative like him who can defend their legislative priorities in the Senate and isn’t outmaneuvered by Chuck Schumer.