Cornyn launches ‘KenStoppers’ hotline in escalation of effort to make primary about Paxton’s character
The article reports that U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) has intensified his primary campaign against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton by launching a website and hotline called “KenStoppers.” This platform encourages the public to anonymously submit tips or evidence related to allegations of wrongdoing by Paxton. The campaign released a digital ad asking Texans who know Paxton or have insider information to come forward, emphasizing Cornyn’s message that “character matters” in leadership. Cornyn’s adviser described Paxton as having a long history of unethical and illegal behaviour dating back to his political career and criticized Paxton for continuing to serve as the state’s chief law enforcement officer despite these controversies.
Paxton has previously denied wrongdoing but has faced multiple investigations,including a 2015 securities fraud indictment (later dismissed) and an impeachment by the Texas House in 2023 over various allegations,though he was acquitted by the Texas Senate. The primary between Cornyn, representing the republican establishment, and Paxton, aligned with MAGA elements, is closely contested in polls. Former president Donald Trump has not yet endorsed either candidate, stating he likes both. The campaign move to launch “KenStoppers” marks an escalation in the increasingly heated race leading up to the March primary.
Cornyn launches ‘KenStoppers’ hotline in escalation of effort to make primary about Paxton’s character
EXCLUSIVE — Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is escalating his Senate primary campaign against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, launching a new ad asking the public for anonymous tips regarding allegations of wrongdoing by Paxton through a “KenStoppers” website and hotline.
Cornyn’s campaign announced the website, a play on the community organization Crime Stoppers, which encourages the public to anonymously report information concerning crime to law enforcement, in a new digital ad that launched on Tuesday.
Cornyn campaign senior adviser Matt Mackowiak told the Washington Examiner the ad, part of a five-figure buy before the primary next March, is aimed at underscoring existing allegations of wrongdoing by Paxton.
“Texans don’t like horse thieves, and there is no elected official in Texas history with a broader and deeper record of impropriety than Crooked Ken Paxton, who is comically serving as our state’s chief law enforcement officer after a decade of violating as many laws, rules and regulations as he could,” Mackowiak said.
The adviser contended that Cornyn has emphasized that “character matters to hardworking Texans” throughout his campaign.
“Texas voters need to fully understand the deeply unethical, improper and selfish choices, decisions and actions Ken Paxton has taken since he became a career politician in 2003,” he added. “This KenStoppers effort is a call to every good and decent Texan who may know something. Step forward, share your story, provide your evidence. Texans deserve the truth about Ken Paxton, and we will deliver it.”
A spokesperson for Paxton did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner‘s request for comment, but the state attorney general has repeatedly denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
During the 30-second ad, a narrator asks whether viewers “know Ken Paxton,” “work for him,” “get paid by him,” or have heard “something you weren’t supposed to.”
“Texas needs you to speak up,” the narrator says. “What else is he hiding? Go to KenStoppers.com. Submit your tip. Stay anonymous.”
The ad is the latest clash between Cornyn and Paxton, who have long disagreed over Paxton’s criticisms of Cornyn’s political and policy positions throughout his four terms in Congress, including Cornyn’s positions ranging from Ukraine and immigration to gun reform after the fatal school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022.
Cornyn has similarly criticized Paxton for, among other complaints, his indictment on state securities fraud charges in 2015 before he became Texas’s attorney general. The charges were dismissed in 2025 after a pretrial agreement that included restitution to the victims, ethics training, and community service.
Paxton was then impeached by the Texas House in 2023 over allegations that he provided preferential treatment to a political donor who had bribed him, misapplied public resources, made false statements against whistleblowers, obstructed justice in his securities fraud trial, and made false statements related to his financial interests. The Texas Senate voted to acquit him, and then-President Joe Biden‘s Justice Department declined to prosecute.
Paxton has tended to poll ahead of Cornyn since announcing his campaign in April, though an Emerson College survey last month that did not include Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX), who has been considering a Senate bid, had Cornyn leading Paxton by 1 percentage point. In that poll, Paxton had 29% support to Cornyn’s 30%.
The primary between Cornyn and Paxton has been perceived as one between the Republican establishment, based on Cornyn’s years in Senate leadership, and MAGA members of the GOP.
TRUMP’S HIGH-PROFILE FIRINGS SHOW DISSENT IN 2.0 CAN BE A ‘ONE-WAY TICKET TO EXILE’
President Donald Trump has not yet endorsed in the primary, telling reporters last week, “I like both guys.”
“Well, I’ll make up my mind — I like them both,” Trump said last Monday. “The worst situation I have is when I have two people that I get along with. Well, I hate it, and they all want the endorsement.”
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