Cornyn Forced into Runoff with Ken Paxton After Outspending Texas AG 33–1

Conservative News DailyMarch 4, 2026

Texas Republicans failed to produce a outright winner in the U.S. Senate GOP primary, setting up a May 26 runoff between incumbent John Cornyn and Texas attorney General Ken Paxton. With about 94% of votes counted, Cornyn led at 41.9% to Paxton’s 40.7% (roughly 897,187 vs. 871,672 votes). Wesley Hunt was a distant third with 13.5% (289,403 votes),and other candidates combined for about 3.9%.

On the Democratic side, state Rep. James Talarico led with 52.8% (1,188,253 votes) over Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s 45.9% (1,034,096 votes). The piece cites AP/Washington Post results and notes the runoff rule requiring a majority to avoid a second round. It also frames campaign dynamics, including messaging from the NRSC praising Cornyn as a safer general-election bet, Paxton casting the race as a David-vs-Goliath struggle, and debates over gun-control positions that Paxton says would undermine Cornyn. The article also includes social-media commentary and related political advertising and commentary.

Nobody won outright in the Texas Republican U.S. Senate primary on Tuesday, which will go to a May 26 runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

According to Associated Press numbers published by The Washington Post, with 94 percent of the votes in, Cornyn led with 41.9 percent of the votes, and Paxton was second at 40.7 percent.

The count showed Cornyn with 897,187 votes against 871,672 for Paxton.

Third-place finisher Rep. Wesley Hunt received 289,403 votes to secure 13.5 percent of the votes cast. Other candidates ate up 3.9 percent of the votes.

Over on the Democratic side, state Rep. James Talarico received 1,188,253 votes, or 52.8 percent, against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, whose 1,034,096 votes gave her 45.9 percent of the votes cast.

Candidates had to achieve 50 percent plus one support to avoid a runoff, according to The Hill.

In February, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said Cornyn was “the only Republican candidate who reliably wins a general election matchup” and that Texas “cannot afford to be a gamble” in the midterm elections.

Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet framed the contest as “a David vs. Goliath race.”

Most people don’t understand just what a David vs. Goliath race Paxton is running against Cornyn.

He’s been outspent 33:1 according to his internal tracking, and he’s still going to win.

This would be one of the biggest upsets in U.S. Senate history if he pulls it off. pic.twitter.com/740B3JdFB9

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) March 4, 2026

He claimed in a post on X that Paxton, who was supported by Turning Point USA, had “been outspent 33:1 according to his internal tracking, and he’s still going to win.”

“This would be one of the biggest upsets in U.S. Senate history if he pulls it off,” Kolvet wrote.

Cornyn had argued he was the better choice to avoid Democrats flipping the seat, according to Fox News.

“If I’m the nominee, I’ll help President Trump by making sure that we carry the five new congressional seats as well as maintain this Senate seat and will help him continue his agenda through the last two years of his term of office,” Cornyn said.

“If the Democrats win, because we nominate a flawed candidate with incredible baggage like the attorney general, then that last two years of [Trump’s] agenda is jeopardized, as well as everybody down ballot that we need to continue to elect as Republicans,” he said.

The Cornyn-Biden gun control bill:

Expanded background checks for military aged gun owners and young single mothers under 21, digging into previously sealed juvenile records, including psychiatric data. pic.twitter.com/kqqTVhX5MS

— National Association for Gun Rights (@gunrights) April 7, 2025

Paxton said that Cornyn’s record, which included support for a gun control measure supported by former President Joe Biden, will be his downfall.

“As we head into this runoff, we’re going to make the choice even clearer. While John Cornyn was cutting deals on gun control and amnesty, I was suing corrupt Joe Biden over 107 times,” Paxton said.