{"id":2607154,"date":"2026-05-26T23:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-fall-in-line-behind-ken-paxton-after-resounding-victory\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T23:01:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:01:29","slug":"republicans-fall-in-line-behind-ken-paxton-after-resounding-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-fall-in-line-behind-ken-paxton-after-resounding-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans fall in line behind Ken Paxton after resounding victory"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frepublicans-fall-in-line-behind-ken-paxton-after-resounding-victory%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2607154&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn in a decisive Republican Texas Senate runoff, winning with more than 60% of the vote after Donald Trump endorsed Paxton last week. The victory sparked rapid GOP consolidation behind Paxton ahead of the November general election.<\/p>\n<p>Republican leaders such as Dustin Burrows, along with figures including Bernie Moreno, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-mike-johnson-re-elected-speaker-of-the-house-in-dramatic-fashion\/\" title=\"Breaking: Mike Johnson Re-Elected Speaker of the House in Dramatic Fashion\">urged party unity<\/a> and positioned Paxton as a strong conservative nominee. The National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly shifted attention to Democratic nominee James Talarico, arguing he is too far left for Texas.<\/p>\n<p>Talarico, simultaneously occurring, framed the race as a referendum on corruption, citing Paxton\u2019s 2023 impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House and accusing him of enriching himself and donors.Talarico also extended an \u201colive branch\u201d to Cornyn supporters, saying they have a place in his campaign. While some Democrats and even some Republicans warned the GOP could face a costly, politically difficult fight in texas to defend its Senate position in 2026, Cornyn conceded in a reflective tone, emphasizing long service and respect for Texas voters\u2019 decision.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Texas Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4370\">Ken Paxton<\/a> is consolidating <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> support after defeating four-term incumbent Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"965\">John Cornyn <\/a>(R-TX) in a decisive Republican <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/primary\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2520\">primary<\/a>, setting up a high-profile general election battle in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4582071\/texas-senate-runoff-result-cornyn-paxton\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4582071\/texas-senate-runoff-result-cornyn-paxton\/\">Paxton defeated Cornyn <\/a>with more than 60% of the vote, delivering a major upset against the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> GOP\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-party-of-tennessee-admits-to-violations-after-misreporting-millions-of-dollars\/\" title=\"...ic Party of Tennessee Admits To Violations After Misreporting Millions Of Dollars\">long-serving member<\/a>. The victory came after President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> endorsed Paxton <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4574393\/trump-endorses-ken-paxton-ahead-texas-senate-primary-runoff\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4574393\/trump-endorses-ken-paxton-ahead-texas-senate-primary-runoff\/\">last week<\/a>, boosting the attorney general after the two <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >candidates spent weeks running neck<\/a> and neck in polling.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4582071\/texas-senate-runoff-result-cornyn-paxton\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paxton beats Cornyn in high-profile Texas Senate GOP runoff<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4582486\/green-menefee-texas-democratic-runoff-results\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Christian Menefee beats longtime Democrat Al Green in runoff<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4582393\/ken-paxton-wife-no-endorsement-texas-senate-runoff\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ken Paxton\u2019s estranged wife doesn\u2019t offer endorsement in Senate race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans quickly rallied behind Paxton following the race call, framing the result as a sign of party unity heading into <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"452\">November<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA steadfast conservative fighter for Texas, he has led the charge on securing the border, defending our constitutional freedoms, and advancing the conservative principles that have made Texas the strongest and most prosperous state in the nation,\u201d Republican Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Burrows4TX\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Burrows4TX\">posted<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWith so much at stake for our state and our country, Republicans are united and ready for the fight ahead,\u201d Burrows added. \u201cLooking forward to supporting Ken Paxton as we work to protect the values and freedoms that make Texas exceptional.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The National Republican Senatorial Committee immediately turned its focus toward Democratic nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17710\">James Talarico<\/a>, painting him as too far to the left for Texas voters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA state President Trump won by nearly 14 points isn\u2019t going to elect James Talarico,\u201d NRSC regional press secretary Samantha Cantrell <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AndrewDesiderio\/status\/2059436358028915158\/photo\/1\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AndrewDesiderio\/status\/2059436358028915158\/photo\/1\">said<\/a> in a statement. \u201cTexas isn\u2019t swapping brisket for open borders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-moreno\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11273\"> Bernie Moreno<\/a> (R-OH) also backed Paxton after the primary, calling on Republicans to unite behind the nominee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe voters have spoken, now Republicans must unite and win,\u201d Moreno <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/berniemoreno\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/berniemoreno\">said<\/a>. \u201cMake no mistake: Ken Paxton will beat him in November and crush the dreams of the out-of-state billionaires propping up his campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Texas Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/greg-abbott\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1373\">Greg Abbott <\/a>(R-TX) congratulated Paxton on what he called a \u201cresounding victory,\u201d predicting the attorney general would become Texas\u2019s next U.S. senator.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race now shifts to a closely watched general election matchup between Paxton and Talarico, who immediately sought to frame the contest as a referendum on corruption and the political establishment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSomething just happened in Texas,\u201d Talarico <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jamestalarico\/status\/2059442627393597577\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jamestalarico\/status\/2059442627393597577\">said<\/a> in a Thursday evening statement after the race was called. \u201cThe most corrupt politician in America just became the Republican nominee for the United States Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talarico pointed to Paxton\u2019s 2023 impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House, accusing him of using \u201chis public office to enrich himself and his donors at the expense of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf we, the people, can come together to defeat the most corrupt politician in America, we can defeat this entire corrupt system,\u201d Talarico said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democrat also extended an olive branch to Cornyn supporters after the bruising GOP primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI want to thank Senator John Cornyn for his years representing our state,\u201d Talarico <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jamestalarico\/status\/2059440382400774481\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jamestalarico\/status\/2059440382400774481\">said<\/a>. \u201cWe don\u2019t agree on everything, but we both still believe in public service. To Senator Cornyn\u2019s supporters: you have a place in our campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some Democrats argued Paxton\u2019s nomination could create a costly and politically difficult race for Republicans as the party works to defend its Senate majority in 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis will cost Republicans the Senate,\u201d one Republican strategist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/dennislennox\/status\/2059440113159938375?s=46\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/dennislennox\/status\/2059440113159938375?s=46\">said<\/a>, arguing the GOP may be forced to spend heavily in Texas instead of defending vulnerable seats elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cornyn, meanwhile, struck a reflective tone in his concession speech, thanking his family and emphasizing his decades of public service.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4582071\/texas-senate-runoff-result-cornyn-paxton\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4582071\/texas-senate-runoff-result-cornyn-paxton\/\">PAXTON BEATS CORNYN IN HIGH-PROFILE TEXAS SENATE GOP RUNOFF<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve spent most of my time in the Senate building the Republican Party in Texas and in the U.S. Senate, and I\u2019ve always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election,\u201d Cornyn <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RyanChandlerTV\/status\/2059444014978339203?s=46\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RyanChandlerTV\/status\/2059444014978339203?s=46\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve said throughout this race that I trust the voters of Texas,\u201d he added. \u201cThey made their decision, and you and I must respect it.\u201d<br \/>Cornyn also praised his wife and daughters, calling public service \u201can honorable calling\u201d despite the toll politics can take on families.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in Texas Senate primary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2607155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/gop-falls-in-line-paxton.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[38244,3756,3694],"class_list":["post-2607154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ken-paxton","tag-republicans","tag-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/gop-falls-in-line-paxton.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2607154"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607158,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607154\/revisions\/2607158"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2607155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2607154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2607154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2607154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}