Paxton’s Victory Ends Cornyn’s Decades-Long Senate Dominance in Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has defeated incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff for Texas’ Senate seat, marking one of the biggest political upsets in the 2026 U.S. election cycle.

The victory ends Cornyn’s long-standing dominance in Texas Republican politics after more than two decades in the Senate. Major U.S. media outlets projected Paxton as the winner shortly after polls closed on Tuesday night.

Paxton, who received the backing of former U.S. President Donald Trump, campaigned heavily on conservative and MAGA-aligned policies, portraying Cornyn as part of the Republican establishment in Washington. Trump’s endorsement was widely viewed as a decisive factor in the race.

The runoff became one of the most expensive Senate primaries in U.S. history, with tens of millions of dollars spent by both campaigns and affiliated political groups. Despite Cornyn’s deep political network and establishment support, Paxton maintained strong backing among grassroots conservative voters across Texas.

Following the result, Cornyn conceded defeat and called for Republican unity ahead of the November general election. Texas Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Greg Abbott, later rallied behind Paxton after the closely watched contest.

Paxton will now face Democratic candidate James Talarico in the general election, a race expected to draw national attention as Democrats seek to make gains in traditionally Republican Texas.