Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Tuesday that he will run against Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 election. Paxton, a Republican, made the announcement during an interview on Fox News’ "The Ingraham Angle," where he expressed his dissatisfaction with Cornyn’s record, particularly his opposition to former President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Paxton believes it’s time for a change in Texas leadership. He highlighted Senator Ted Cruz as a strong representative and stated that Texas deserves another senator who will uphold Republican values and support Trump’s initiatives. He criticized Cornyn for his past actions, including gun control measures and a lack of support for building a border wall. Paxton emphasized that Cornyn has not done enough for Texas or the country, saying, “It’s time that somebody held him accountable for that.”
In his statement, Paxton pledged to challenge the establishment in Washington, claiming that Cornyn has repeatedly turned his back on Trump and the America First agenda. He pointed out that Cornyn has been in the Senate for over two decades and accused him of being out of touch with the needs of Texans.
Paxton has served as Texas attorney general for three terms and has often criticized Cornyn for supporting gun control and foreign aid, particularly to Ukraine. He quipped that he might start calling Cornyn “Senator Ukraine” due to his focus on funding Ukraine rather than addressing border security issues in Texas.
Senator Cornyn, who is in his fourth term, has been a prominent figure in Republican politics and previously served as Senate Majority Whip. Reports indicate that Senate Republican leaders have urged Trump to endorse Cornyn to prevent a contentious primary. Cornyn acknowledged the importance of Trump’s endorsement but refrained from commenting on when it might happen, stating he has a good relationship with the former president.
Recent polling suggests that Paxton currently leads Cornyn by 20 points, indicating a potentially competitive primary race ahead. As the political landscape evolves, both candidates will likely ramp up their campaigns in the coming months, making for an interesting election cycle in Texas.