Paxton dominates Cornyn in Texas US Senate runoff, the latest sign of Trump’s hold on GOP

2026, May 27

United States

Ken Paxton’s decisive win over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff is being widely read as another clear example of Donald Trump’s continued dominance over the GOP.

🗳️ What happened

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent, in the Republican runoff for U.S. Senate.

Paxton’s margin was large, with some reports showing a double-digit or even 20+ point victory.

Trump’s late endorsement of Paxton is widely seen as the decisive factor in shifting Republican primary voters.

Cornyn has since conceded and is expected to exit the Senate after a long career spanning over two decades.