Texas GOP voters decide Senate primary between Paxton and Cornyn

Texas Republican voters cast ballots Tuesday in a Senate primary runoff between Attorney General Ken Paxton and four-term Sen. John Cornyn. The race has become the most expensive primary in U.S. history, with more than $100 million spent by both sides. President Trump endorsed Paxton the day before the runoff.

Background of the candidates Paxton, 63, has served as Texas attorney general since 2015. He has faced criminal indictments, whistleblower allegations, and an impeachment by the Texas House, from which he was acquitted. Cornyn, 74, has represented Texas in the Senate since 2002. He has said he voted with Trump more than 99 percent of the time during the prior administration.

Campaign arguments Paxton told supporters at a Katy rally that his record of lawsuits against federal policies exceeds Cornyn's legislative tenure. "That's more stuff in one week than John Cornyn in 42 years," he said. Cornyn has warned that a Paxton nomination would give Democrats their best chance in decades to win a Texas Senate seat.

He has also argued that the contest has exposed divisions within the state Republican Party. Supporters at Paxton's events cited Cornyn's support for bipartisan gun legislation after the 2022 Uvalde shooting and his refusal to end the Senate filibuster on voting measures.