Texas Republican Senate Candidates Skip Public Events Ahead of Runoff

U.S. Senate on Monday unless they view screens. No public campaign events are scheduled for Sen. John Cornyn or state Attorney General Ken Paxton on the final day before Tuesday's runoff. Cornyn is scheduled to host an annual non-campaign event in San Antonio to recognize high school graduates attending the nation's service academies.

His last public campaign event took place Friday in Corpus Christi. Paxton held his last campaign events Thursday in the Austin area and San Antonio.

The candidates' campaigns and supporting groups have spent more than $109 million on advertising, with Cornyn's side providing the larger share. In the final week, pro-Cornyn spending was less than twice the amount spent by pro-Paxton groups. Over the full campaign, Cornyn's network outspent pro-Paxton groups by nearly nine-to-one.

Cornyn's campaign has continued to air advertisements questioning Paxton's ethics and personal record. Paxton's campaign and supporting groups have shifted to advertisements highlighting President Donald Trump's endorsement.

Trump endorsed Paxton on May 19.

The endorsement came on the second day of early voting, which ended Friday. Wayne Hamilton, a former executive director of the Texas Republican Party, described the contest as "a slug fest, with the campaigns and third-party groups slugging it out.