Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton To Challenge John Cornyn For Senate

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched his long-anticipated campaign Tuesday for the 2026 Senate race to challenge Sen. John Cornyn, settling up what is expected to be a bitter and expensive primary that some fear could hurt Republicans in the general election.

Paxton, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump who was acquitted in 2023 by the GOP-dominated state Senate in an impeachment trial, cast himself as similar to fellow Texan Sen. Ted Cruz as he made his announcement in a Fox News interview.

“It’s definitely time for a change in Texas,” Paxton said. “We have another great U.S. senator in Ted Cruz. And it’s time we have another great senator that will actually stand up and fight for republican values, fight for the values of the people of Texas, and also support Donald Trump.”

Paxton’s announcement sets up what is likely to be a tough battle with Cornyn, a longtime senator who recently secured an endorsement from Senate Majority Leader John Thune. This, after Cornyn came in second last year to Thune in the fight to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell for the chamber’s top post.

Polls have shown Paxton with higher levels of support among the more conservative voters who tend to show up in high numbers for a primary. But a tough campaign could be expensive for both candidates and could cost either of them support among moderates in the general election. Both men will be eagerly courting an endorsement from Trump, whose influence could weigh heavily in the state.

On the Democratic side, Colin Allred, a former member of Congress and professional football player who was defeated by Cruz last year, is “seriously considering” a run, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Cornyn and Paxton have clashed repeatedly over the years, with Cornyn dinging the MAGA firebrand for his legal difficulties and Paxton assailing the senator over what he sees as insufficient support for Trump.

Paxton told Fox that Cornyn has been ineffective.

“He’s had 24 years of this which I think is plenty given his lack of production,” Paxton said. “It’s hard to think of the things that he’s done good for Texas or the country.”

Minutes after his announcement, Cornyn’s campaign slammed the Texas attorney general in a statement posted on X.

“Ken Paxton is a fraud,” the Cornyn campaign said in a statement on Tuesday. “He talks tough on crime and then lets crooked progressive Lina Hidalgo off the hook. He says his impeachment trial was a sham but he didn’t contest the facts in legal filings which will cost the state millions. He says he’s anti-woke but he funnels millions of taxpayer dollars to lawyers who celebrate DEI.”

Paxton was impeached by the Texas House on corruption charges in 2023 before being acquitted by the state Senate.

The attorney general, who has stared down criminal investigations for years, faces charges that included bribery after an investigation found he used his office to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, a friend and donor.

Paxton and Cornryn clashed in one memorable exchange last year, over the senator's vote in favor of a $95 billion foreign aid package.

“Ken, your criminal defense lawyers are calling,” Cornyn hit back on X.

Cornyn’s campaign disputed the notion that he isn’t an effective supporter of Trump in the Senate.

“During his first term John Cornyn voted with President Trump more than 95% of current Senators, securing the votes for his biggest accomplishments as his Whip,” the campaign said. “Democrats are trying to destroy President Trump, and he and Texas need a battle-tested conservative who knows how to protect his agenda in the Senate and won't be outsmarted by Chuck Schumer.”