Cornyn and Paxton Head to Runoff in Texas Senate GOP Primary

The Texas Republican primary for U.S. Senate will continue for several more weeks, with incumbent Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton set to face off in a runoff election on May 26th. Neither candidate secured a majority of the vote in Tuesday’s primary, signaling a deeply divided Republican electorate.

A Tight Race and a May 26th Runoff

As of Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, with 85% of counties and 33% of statewide polling locations reporting, Senator Cornyn had received 43.2% of the vote, although Attorney General Paxton garnered 39.9%. Representative Wesley Hunt of Houston trailed significantly with 13.4% of the vote. KUT News and Texas Public Radio both reported these initial results.

The Battle for the Republican Base

The contest between Cornyn and Paxton reflects a broader struggle within the Republican Party between establishment figures and the party’s more conservative wing. The New York Times characterized the primary as a “bruising contest” highlighting this internal division.

Paxton’s Legal Battles and Influence

Ken Paxton’s strong showing is notable given his ongoing legal challenges and his role in advancing a conservative legal agenda as Attorney General. Paxton has been a prolific litigant, filing over 100 lawsuits against the Biden administration during his tenure. He previously claimed to have sued the Biden administration 106 times, filing the final lawsuit just hours before President Biden left office.

Prior to Paxton, former Governor Greg Abbott also aggressively pursued legal challenges to Democratic policies, setting the stage for Paxton’s more assertive approach. Paxton’s office has develop into a key incubator for conservative legal talent, with potential future Supreme Court contenders like James Ho and Andrew Oldham having served in the Texas Attorney General’s office.

Texas as a Legal Battleground

Texas has become a favored venue for Republican legal challenges due to several factors. The state’s large legal workforce allows for the allocation of resources to partisan litigation. The Texas federal court system allows plaintiffs to often select the trial judge, and cases are appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is considered to be closely aligned with the conservative movement.

Democratic Primary Results

On the Democratic side, state Representative James Talarico held a slim lead against U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett as of Wednesday, March 4th, 2026. NBC News projected Talarico as the winner of the Democratic Senate nomination.

Looking Ahead

The runoff election between Cornyn and Paxton promises to be a contentious affair, further exposing the divisions within the Texas Republican Party. The outcome will significantly shape the future of the state’s representation in the U.S. Senate and potentially influence the broader national political landscape.