Texas Senate Primary: Cornyn Faces Paxton in Runoff as GOP Shifts Right

A Runoff Looms: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Advances in Senate Primary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is poised for a May 26 runoff election against incumbent Senator John Cornyn after Tuesday’s Republican primary failed to produce a clear winner. While Cornyn secured the most votes with 43.2%, he didn’t reach the majority needed to avoid a second contest, leaving Paxton, with 39.8% of the vote, as his challenger. The outcome signals a significant test for the Texas GOP and a potential shift in the party’s direction, as Paxton, a figure closely aligned with the MAGA movement, gains momentum.

The race wasn’t a straightforward win for the establishment. Representative Wesley Hunt garnered 13.4% of the vote, but ultimately fell short of forcing a three-way runoff. Both Cornyn and Paxton campaigns actively worked to diminish Hunt’s support in the final weeks, recognizing him as a potential spoiler. Hunt will now have to relinquish his House seat, bringing an end to this chapter of his political career.

The Rise of a Partisan Legal Force

Paxton’s strong showing isn’t simply a personal victory; it’s a testament to a far-right legal movement reshaping constitutional interpretation. This movement rejects traditional liberal democratic theories and embraces a more partisan lens, a strategy Paxton has championed throughout his tenure as Attorney General. He’s grow a key figure in challenging federal policies and pushing conservative legal boundaries.

Paxton’s legal battles are well-documented. He brought Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit seeking to overturn President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, demonstrating his willingness to challenge election results. He claims to have filed 106 lawsuits against the Biden administration, even lodging the final one just hours before Biden left office, according to his official website.

While Paxton didn’t single-handedly build this aggressive legal strategy, he inherited and accelerated it from his predecessor, current Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott successfully sued the Obama administration to block the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program, laying the groundwork for Paxton’s more assertive approach.

Shaping the Trump-Era GOP’s Legal Strategies

Paxton’s rise coincided with Donald Trump’s transformation of the Republican Party and he quickly became a central figure in advancing the new administration’s legal agenda. The Texas Attorney General’s office frequently advanced Republican legal positions in court, playing an enormous role in shaping the Trump-era GOP’s legal strategies and arguments.

Despite occasional disagreements within the party – such as the Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down some of Trump’s tariffs – Paxton’s influence as a leader of a key source of Republican legal power is undeniable. This has intensified lobbying efforts among Cornyn’s allies in Washington, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, for a potential endorsement from President Trump. Trump has so far remained neutral, calling all three candidates “friends,” but the tight contest increases the value of his support.

Texas: A Hub for Partisan Litigation

The concentration of Republican litigation resources in Texas is strategic. The state’s size – nearly 750 lawyers work under Paxton – allows it to dedicate resources to partisan legal work. Texas’s federal court system offers advantages to Republican plaintiffs. The state’s courts often allow plaintiffs to select the trial judge, and cases frequently appeal to the Fifth Circuit, which is dominated by judges aligned with the MAGA movement.

This favorable legal landscape has enabled Paxton to achieve victories, even if temporary. For example, he secured a temporary reinstatement of a Trump-era border policy, though the Supreme Court ultimately reversed the decision. However, the delay allowed a preferred judge to effectively act as the de facto border czar for nearly a year.

Pushing the Boundaries of Constitutional Interpretation

Paxton’s office has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of constitutional interpretation, often arguing for positions that contradict the explicit language of federal laws. He successfully persuaded the Supreme Court to immunize Texas’s SB 8, an abortion ban enforced by private citizens, from judicial review. The Court’s decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson (2021) potentially allows states to neutralize constitutional rights by incentivizing private enforcement, a controversial precedent.

More recently, in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton (2025), Paxton’s office convinced the Supreme Court to overturn a previous ruling and uphold a Texas anti-pornography law. While Paxton has also faced setbacks – such as the dismissal of Texas v. Pennsylvania and a ruling against a Texas law attempting to control social media content moderation – his office has consistently advanced conservative legal arguments.

What’s Next for the Texas Senate Race?

The May 26 runoff will be a crucial test of strength for both Cornyn and Paxton. The outcome will likely hinge on securing the support of voters who backed Wesley Hunt in the primary, as well as attracting undecided Republicans. The race is expected to be fiercely contested, with both candidates likely to intensify their attacks and rally their base. The result will not only determine who represents Texas in the Senate but also signal the future direction of the Republican Party in the state and nationally.