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Trump-backed Ken Paxton ousts John Cornyn in heated Texas race after scandal-plagued campaign
TL;DR
Ken Paxton, backed by Donald Trump, defeated incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican primary runoff. This victory highlights Trump's influence and sets the stage for a competitive Senate race against Democrat James Talarico.
Key points
- Ken Paxton won the Republican primary runoff in Texas
- Paxton's victory reflects Trump's influence in the state
- James Talarico is the Democratic challenger in the upcoming Senate race
- Midterm elections may favor Democrats and impact Republican strategies
- Texas remains a conservative stronghold despite recent political shifts
Mentioned in this story
Ken PaxtonJohn CornynJames TalaricoRepublican PartyDemocratic PartyTexas
Ken Paxton, the Donald Trump-backed Texas attorney general, triumphed over incumbent John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff for senator. His victory signals that even a scandal-plagued candidate can win over the deep red state with the support of the president.
The race had wide implications for Trump’s strength heading into November’s midterm elections, where Paxtonwill now face James Talarico, a Democratic pastor and state legislator whose message of peace and populism has attracted much attention. If he wins, Talarico would become the first Democrat in more than 30 years to win statewide office in Texas.
Midterm elections often serve as a referendum on the sitting president and tend to help the opposing party. This year Democrats are favored to win the House of Representatives, though a supreme court decision that decimated the Voting Rights Act could allow for more Republican-leaning districts and complicate the picture. The race for Senate remains in flux, though candidatessuch as Talarico, Graham Platner in Maine, as well as purple states such as Ohio and Michigan, could upset the Republican lead.
Texas, which Trump won in 2024 by a gaping 14 percentage points in 2024, remains a conservative state, and the Republican primary was a testament to hot button issues – from religion to economy – that animate the base.
First elected state attorney general in 2014, Paxton sought to position himself as a national leader on the far right, launching some of the first criminal investigations in the US over abortion bans and gender-affirming care for transgender youth. He also led a lawsuit attempting to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort the US supreme court rejected.
Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, said: “Paxton was Donald Trump before Donald Trump was. He was in the vanguard of the Tea Party movement, which was a major spur for the Maga movement nationally.”
But Paxton comes with significant political baggage, and national Republicans worry they will have to spend significantly more with him as the nominee.Paxton was impeached in 2023 after being accused of corruption, and reported to the FBI. He was , where his wife was a state senator but not allowed to cast a vote.
Q&A
What does Ken Paxton's victory mean for Trump's influence in Texas?
Paxton's win demonstrates that Trump's backing can help a scandal-plagued candidate succeed in Texas, indicating strong support for the former president in the state.
Who is James Talarico and what are his chances against Ken Paxton?
James Talarico is a Democratic pastor and state legislator running against Paxton, and if he wins, he would be the first Democrat to secure statewide office in Texas in over 30 years.
How might the midterm elections impact the Republican party in Texas?
The midterm elections could serve as a referendum on the sitting president, with Democrats favored to win the House, potentially complicating Republican prospects in Texas and beyond.
