Paxton defeats Cornyn in Texas Republican primary runoff election

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has won the Republican Senate primary run-off, according to US media projections. The result was quickly called by Fox News and CNN after polls closed on Tuesday. Paxton defeated four-term US Senator John Cornyn in the runoff election.

Cornyn had represented Texas in the Senate since 2002 and entered the race as the favourite, backed by major donors and senior Republican figures. However, he struggled to connect with Trump’s political base. Paxton presented himself as one of Trump’s strongest allies, which helped him gain support from the president.

The outcome highlights Trump’s influence over the Republican Party. Cornyn had previously criticized Trump and angered some conservatives by supporting bipartisan gun legislation after the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. Paxton’s backing reshaped the race, making Cornyn the latest Republican incumbent to lose after falling out of favour with the president.

Paxton will now face Democratic state Representative James Talarico in a closely watched November election that could help decide control of the US Senate. Talarico has attracted moderate and independent voters, while some Republicans privately fear Paxton could struggle in a general election despite his popularity with Trump supporters.

In a statement, Cornyn acknowledged defeat and expressed his intention to support the Republican ticket again. Paxton predicted that he would be the Democrats’ number one target in November and urged his followers to donate to his campaign. Talarico has called Paxton “the most corrupt politician in America” on social media, inviting Cornyn’s supporters to vote for him.

Source: Al Jazeera