All posts tagged: Paxton

Paxton is the Republican nominee for Senate in Texas, beating Cornyn : NPR

Paxton is the Republican nominee for Senate in Texas, beating Cornyn : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton speaks to supporters at a watch party on March 3 in Dallas. Paxton beat incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a runoff for the nomination, setting up a tough fight in November against Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico. Sergio Flores/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Sergio Flores/Getty Images Texas Republicans nominated scandal-plagued state Attorney General Ken Paxton in their U.S. Senate primary following an endorsement from President Trump, according to a race call by the Associated Press. This effectively unseats Sen. John Cornyn, a pillar of the party’s establishment wing. Republicans spent $100 million in what became the most expensive primary in Senate history. Cornyn, 74, and Paxton, 63, made it to Tuesday’s runoff after each failed to garner a majority of votes in the state’s March primary. Polling and political analysts suggested the race was already tilting in Paxton’s favor in recent weeks, and Trump’s endorsement put Cornyn’s bid for a fifth term on life support. Trump endorsed the MAGA loyalist last week while early voting was underway, energizing …

Texas Republican Senate primary pits Paxton against Cornyn

Texas Republican Senate primary pits Paxton against Cornyn

Published by Sam Flores

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas (L) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Eddie Seal | Bloomberg | Getty Images Polls are open in the Republican Senate primary runoff in Texas as incumbent Sen. John Cornyn tries to fend off a primary challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has the backing of President Donald Trump. The winner of the Republican runoff will face off against Democratic state legislator James Talarico in the general election in November. The race is expected to be one of the most expensive in the nation as the GOP vies to keep control of the Senate and Democrats push to win a long-sought Senate seat in Texas. Cornyn came out narrowly on top of Paxton in the March primary, but failed to garner enough votes to avoid a runoff. Trump’s endorsement of Paxton last week sent shock waves through the Republican-controlled Senate, which has poured significant resources into Cornyn’s reelection bid. Cornyn also took extensive steps to mend his relationship with Trump, which has been strained over the …

Trump flexes endorsement power for Ken Paxton after ousting Cassidy

Trump flexes endorsement power for Ken Paxton after ousting Cassidy

Published by Sam Flores

GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton speaks to supporters at a watch party on March 3, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Paxton and incumbent John Cornyn will face off again in a run off. Sergio Flores | Getty Images President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state’s Republican Senate primary runoff Tuesday, throwing his weight behind a hard-line ally and dealing a major blow to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn one week before Election Day. The endorsement gives Paxton a major boost in one of the GOP’s most closely watched Senate primaries, a race that has become a test of Trump’s grip on Republican voters and the strength of the Senate GOP establishment. “Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate. He will tirelessly fight to continue the Great Growth of our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he …

Talarico wins Texas Senate Democratic nomination while Cornyn and Paxton head to Republican runoff

Talarico wins Texas Senate Democratic nomination while Cornyn and Paxton head to Republican runoff

Published by Sam Flores

State Rep. James Talarico topped Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in an expensive and fiercely contested Texas Senate Democratic primary that once again has the party dreaming of a big upset in November. Who Talarico will face depends on a May runoff between longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn and MAGA favorite Ken Paxton — a race expected to get increasingly nasty over coming months and could hinge on whether or not President Donald Trump offers an endorsement. Texas, along with North Carolina and Arkansas, on Tuesday kicked off midterm elections with control of Congress at stake and against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. No Democrat has won a statewide race in the reliably Republican state in over 30 years, but in a statement after his victory, Talarico proclaimed “We’re about to take back Texas.” Crockett’s campaign said she planned to sue over voting issues in Dallas and she spoke only briefly on Tuesday night to warn that “people have been disenfranchised.” Republicans head to round 2 Cornyn, meanwhile, is seeking a fifth term but …

James Talarico wins Texas Democratic Senate primary as John Cornyn and Ken Paxton go to a GOP runoff

James Talarico wins Texas Democratic Senate primary as John Cornyn and Ken Paxton go to a GOP runoff

Published by Sam Flores

State Rep. James Talarico has won the Democratic Senate nomination in Texas over Rep. Jasmine Crockett, NBC News projects, as the party seeks to put the traditionally Republican state in play this fall. With 83% of the expected vote in, Talarico had won 53% to Crockett’s 46%. On the Republican side, the heated primary is set to continue for several more weeks, with NBC News projecting that Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton will advance to a runoff. “We’re about to take back Texas,” Talarico said in a short statement after the race was called. Crockett conceded to Talarico, saying in a statement Wednesday that she called him to congratulate him on becoming the party’s nominee. She urged the party to unite behind Talarico heading into the general election. “With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win,” Crockett said. “I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot.” Largely aligned on policy, Talarico and Crockett diverged on style …