Texas Republicans nominated Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate after President Trump’s endorsement, according to a race call. The result effectively unseats Sen. John Cornyn, a long-time establishment figure. Republicans spent $100 million in the most expensive Senate primary in history. Cornyn and Paxton advanced to a runoff after neither won a majority in March. Polling and analysts indicated the race was shifting toward Paxton, and Trump’s endorsement energized his supporters during early voting. Democrats see Republican divisions as an opportunity to win the seat and potentially gain Senate control. Paxton’s candidacy also reflects Trump’s continued grip on the party despite political turbulence. Paxton’s background includes legal and personal controversies, including criminal allegations, impeachment, and divorce proceedings.
"Texas Republicans nominated scandal-plagued state Attorney General Ken Paxton in their U.S. Senate primary following an endorsement from President Trump, according to a race call by the Associated Press. This effectively unseats Sen. John Cornyn, a pillar of the party's establishment wing. Republicans spent $100 million in what became the most expensive primary in Senate history. Cornyn, 74, and Paxton, 63, made it to Tuesday's runoff after each failed to garner a majority of votes in the state's March primary."
"Polling and political analysts suggested the race was already tilting in Paxton's favor in recent weeks, and Trump's endorsement put Cornyn's bid for a fifth term on life support. Trump endorsed the MAGA loyalist last week while early voting was underway, energizing Paxton supporters. "Whenever I'm around him, good things happen," Paxton told voters in Katy, Texas the day after the endorsement. "Good things happen to me and good things happen for Texas. So I love Donald Trump.""
"Democrats hope this seat and the Senate majority more broadly could be attainable thanks to the divisions among Republicans in this race. Paxton's victory also reaffirms Trump's grip on the Republican party despite his falling poll numbers and other political upheaval. A Democrat has not been elected statewide here since 1994. The party nominated state Rep. James Talarico in the first round of primaries in March, averting the May runoff."
"Paxton came to the race with legal and personal baggage. Since he became a state official more than ten years ago, he's fended off criminal indictments, whistleblower allegations and an impeachment by the Texas House. He was acquitted in the Texas Senate. His estranged wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce last summer on "biblical grounds." But Paxton su"
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