Ken Paxton’s Primary Upset, NRSC Content Deletion, and the Texas Senate Race Ahead

On May 26 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate. Within hours, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) removed at least nine press releases and digital ads that had criticized Paxton. Each deleted page now returns a 404 error, while the NRSC website continues to host a statement attacking Paxton’s Democratic opponent James Talarico.

NOTUS

Paxton entered the race with multiple legal and ethical challenges, including a 2023 impeachment by the Texas House, a securities-fraud indictment, and a divorce filed on “biblical grounds” that alleged adultery. Earlier NRSC statements described his conduct toward his wife as “truly repulsive and disgusting” and accused him of “cheating on his taxes and personal finances.” The campaign also highlighted his support for taxpayer-funded grants to gender-affirming programs and alleged Democratic-linked donor money.

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• NRSC spending on the primary: over $120 million, primarily to support Cornyn.

Salon

• Estimated cost of a general-election Texas Senate race: >$100 million.

• Fundraising (first three months of 2026): James Talarico – $27 million; Ken Paxton – $2.2 million.

Mediaite

• Cook Political Report rating shift: from “likely Republican” to “leaning Republican” after Paxton’s win.

The NRSC’s current website features a statement condemning Talarico’s support for transgender youth, framing it as “radical” and “out of touch with Texas values.” Paxton’s victory speech focused on attacking Talarico, labeling his support for trans children “weird” and mocking his personal habits. Talarico responded by accusing Paxton of “weaponizing division” to distract from corruption and economic concerns.

The Advocate

The rapid removal of critical NRSC material has been described as an “uncomfortable position” for Senate Republicans, who must now reconcile support for a candidate with a history of scandals. Party insiders noted that the primary forced the NRSC to pivot resources away from a candidate they had previously defended, raising questions about internal cohesion.

New York Times

During a post-victory interview on MS NOW, Talarico said Trump-aligned voters approach him at rallies “like they’re in witness protection,” expressing disillusionment with “extremism and corruption” he associates with Paxton. He emphasized that name-calling does not address “grocery bills, gas prices, housing, childcare, or prescription drugs.”

Polling cited in various outlets alternately suggests Paxton leading, tied, or trailing Talarico, creating uncertainty about the general-election outlook. The NRSC has not disclosed the full content of the deleted releases, leaving a gap in public understanding of the specific allegations they contained.

Raw Story

• “When asked, what do you love outside of his family and friends? His first answer was trans kids. That’s weird, and that’s a radical guy,” — Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, Senate candidate

Pink News

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

The Advocate

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

The Advocate

• “like they’re in the witness protection program.” — James Talarico

• “Ken Paxton’s betrayals of the public trust just keep coming.” — Joanna Rodriguez, NRSC communications director (statement deleted July 2025)

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• “Ken Paxton wins! Endorsed by Trump!” — Donald Trump, Truth Social post

Salon

The November Senate contest will test whether Paxton’s primary momentum can overcome fundraising disadvantages and ethical concerns. The Cook Political Report’s revised rating suggests a competitive race, while the NRSC’s handling of internal criticism may influence broader GOP strategy in swing-state contests.

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