Ken Paxton Wins Texas Republican Senate Primary, Will Face Democrat James Talarico
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a Republican primary runoff, securing the nomination with a 28-point margin. The race, the most expensive Senate primary in history, saw Paxton benefit from a last-minute endorsement by President Donald Trump. Paxton will now face Democratic state Representative James Talarico in the November general election.
Facts First
- Ken Paxton defeated Senator John Cornyn by a 28-point margin in the Republican primary runoff.
- President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton one week before the runoff, during early voting.
- The primary became the most expensive in Senate history, with Republicans spending over $100 million.
- Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico in the November general election for the Texas Senate seat.
- A Democrat has not won a statewide office in Texas since 1994.
What Happened
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated four-term Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff on May 26, 2026. The Associated Press called the race one hour after polls closed, with Paxton holding 63.2% of the vote when 59% was counted. Paxton's 28-point victory margin is the widest primary defeat for a sitting U.S. senator since 1978. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton on May 19, 2026, during the second day of early voting. In the first round of voting on March 3, Cornyn led Paxton but neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote, leading to the runoff. By the end of election night, Cornyn was on pace to win only three of Texas' 254 counties.
Why this Matters to You
The outcome of this primary may influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, which could affect national policy on issues like taxes, healthcare, and immigration. The Cook Political Report changed its rating for the Texas Senate race from 'Likely Republican' to 'Lean Republican' following the primary results, suggesting the November election could be more competitive than usual for Texas. For Texas voters, the general election in November will feature Republican nominee Ken Paxton against Democratic nominee state Representative James Talarico.
What's Next
Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico in the November general election. The Texas Senate race is the second most expensive in the country this year, and more than $108 million has been spent on it already, indicating intense focus will likely continue. A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll from mid-April showed Talarico leading each Republican candidate by approximately the same amount, and indicated that nearly 1 in 5 voters had not decided between a Republican and Talarico, suggesting the race could be close. Republicans are forecast to win 3-5 House seats in Texas from redistricting.