Texas GOP voters vote in race that could shape future of the party -- and the Senate

Texas Republican Primary Pits Incumbent Cornyn Against Paxton for Senate Nomination

KATY, Texas — Supporters filled an old-school barbecue restaurant here on a recent evening as music played and food service continued for attendees at a campaign event for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Ricardo Vidaurre and his wife attended the gathering in the Houston suburb. Vidaurre said of Paxton, “He has guts.”

President Trump endorsed Paxton the previous day as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. The endorsement came during the runoff phase of the primary contest against four-term Sen. John Cornyn. The race has involved substantial spending by both campaigns and outside groups.

Paxton supporters at the event criticized Cornyn’s support for bipartisan gun legislation following the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. They also faulted him for not moving to end the Senate filibuster to advance the SAVE Act on voting procedures. Cornyn has stated he voted in line with Trump’s positions more than 99 percent of the time during the prior administration. Paxton has pointed to lawsuits filed by his office against federal policies as a record of opposition to Democratic initiatives in Washington.

Paxton, 63, has faced criminal indictments, whistleblower complaints, and an impeachment by the Texas House since taking state office more than a decade ago. The Texas Senate acquitted him on the impeachment articles. His wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce last summer. Paxton supporters have described the personal matters as unrelated to his official record.

Cornyn, 74, has described the primary contest as revealing divisions within Texas Republicans. No Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, and none has held a U.S. Senate seat from the state since 1993. University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus said the contest reflects broader ideological differences within the Republican Party that have developed over multiple election cycles. He noted that outcomes in the race could influence the balance between different factions in future statewide contests.

Cornyn has argued that a Paxton nomination would increase the chance of Democratic gains in the general election for the Senate seat. He stated that the primary has required resources that could otherwise support Republican candidates in competitive races elsewhere, including Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina. Supporter Vicki Fullerton said the endorsement of Paxton would require additional spending to defend the Texas seat.

Republican candidates have faced national conditions including economic indicators and energy prices ahead of the November midterms. Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha said voter dissatisfaction with costs and gasoline prices could affect turnout. He contrasted the Republican contest with the Democratic Senate primary, which concluded without a runoff after state Rep. James Talarico secured the nomination. Rocha also cited shifts among some Latino voters who supported Trump in the prior presidential election but expressed concerns over economic conditions and immigration enforcement.

Republican analysts have countered that sustained divisions in the primary could reduce overall party cohesion heading into the general election. They have pointed to Cornyn’s prior general-election victories as evidence that broader voter coalitions remain available to establishment-aligned candidates. NPR reporting has noted that some independent voters continue to hold negative views of Democrats nationally, partly tied to internal party disputes.

The Texas contest has drawn attention because control of the Senate seat could factor into the chamber’s majority after November. Both campaigns have presented records on alignment with Trump-era policies and state-level actions against federal initiatives. Voter participation in the runoff will determine which candidate advances to the general election against the Democratic nominee.

Paxton has described his legal and political record as more direct opposition to Democratic policies than Cornyn’s legislative tenure. Cornyn has emphasized experience in building coalitions across party lines while maintaining high levels of support for Republican priorities. Rottinghaus said whichever candidate prevails, the primary has illustrated ongoing competition between traditional conservative and populist approaches within the state party.

Early voting data and turnout patterns in suburban areas such as Katy will provide indicators of support distribution. The general election is scheduled for November, with the winner serving a six-year term beginning in January 2027.