Ken Paxton Wins Texas Senate Primary Runoff, Setting Up High-Stakes General Election

Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff, securing 62.45 % of the vote to Cornyn’s 37.55 % with 58.88 % of precincts reporting. In his victory speech, Paxton mocked Democratic opponent James Talarico’s support for transgender youth, calling it “weird” and “radical.”

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Paxton has been Texas attorney general since 2015. He faced a felony securities-fraud indictment that the Justice Department dismissed in 2022. In 2023 the Texas House impeached him on 20 articles, including bribery and abuse of office; the Senate later acquitted him. As AG, he sued over protections for trans students, pursued gender-affirming-care providers, and backed bans on trans athletes.

The Advocate

Paxton: 62.45 % of runoff vote.

The Advocate

Cornyn: 37.55 % of runoff vote.

Rolling Stone

Reporting completeness at time of call: 58.88 % of precincts.

Rolling Stone

Paxton’s win ends a two-decade Senate incumbency and tests Trump’s sway within the GOP. The contest pits a candidate with ongoing legal controversies against a Democrat emphasizing economic populism and LGBTQ+ advocacy. The result could affect Senate control, national culture-war strategy, and Texas’s role as a hub for anti-trans litigation.

Rolling Stone

Trump’s Truth Social post praised Paxton as a steadfast MAGA supporter who delivers for Texas. Paxton’s runoff remarks included, “His first answer was trans kids. That’s weird, and that’s a radical guy.” Talarico, on a national program, accused Paxton of “weaponizing division to distract from corruption and economic anxieties.”

The Advocate

Democratic campaign materials label Paxton “the most corrupt politician in America.” Rolling Stone notes his “affairs, a tabloid divorce, allegations of corruption and misuse of office.” Advocacy groups argue his lawsuits have turned Texas into a testing ground for anti-trans initiatives.

Rolling Stone

Sources confirm Paxton remains under indictment for securities fraud, though the Justice Department dismissed the case; no final court ruling is cited. The impeachment trial ended in acquittal, yet political consequences remain unsettled. No independent verification of the vote-counting methodology is provided.

The Advocate

• “He’s a vegan who thinks God is non-binary and that there’s actually six biological sexes,” — Ken Paxton

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• “ Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America.” — James Talarico

Rolling Stone

• “This is how puppet politicians like Ken Paxton stay in power,” — James Talarico

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• “a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas,” — Donald Trump

Rolling Stone

• “They divide us by party, by race, by gender, by religion, by all this culture war stuff,” — James Talarico

The Advocate

The November general election will pit Paxton against Talarico. Both campaigns will emphasize the contrast between Paxton’s legal controversies and Talarico’s focus on economic issues and LGBTQ+ rights. Ongoing scrutiny of Paxton’s indictment and impeachment may shape voter perceptions.

The Advocate