Trump-backed Ken Paxton defeats incumbent John Cornyn in Texas GOP Senate primary

Paxton, 63, has served as Texas Attorney General since 2014 and previously held seats in the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate. He studied psychology and law, worked as a lawyer, and founded a church with his wife, with whom he has four children.

A Controversial Figure

However, Paxton's career has been shadowed by multiple scandals. He has been indicted for securities fraud and abuse of office, and has faced allegations of bribery, nepotism, and corruption linked to an extramarital affair with a friend and major donor. He survived an impeachment proceeding in the Texas legislature, where several Republican colleagues voted in favor of his removal.

Paxton has also been a prominent legal antagonist of Democratic administrations, suing the federal government repeatedly during the Obama and Biden eras, including over the Affordable Care Act. He has championed hardline immigration policies, opposition to abortion, and opposition to LGBTQ rights.

The Democratic candidate for the seat is James Talarico. Democrats see an opportunity to flip the seat, citing Paxton's legal baggage and polarizing profile. Some Republicans share that fear, warning that his nomination could deter moderate voters and cost the party a Senate majority.

National Implications

Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than sixty years, but the national stakes are high. The outcome of the Texas race could determine which party controls the Senate after the midterm elections in early November 2026.

Trump's influence in Republican primaries has been a double-edged sword. In recent years, the party lost three Senate seats after Trump backed loyal but controversial candidates. This cycle, Trump has also targeted other incumbents he deemed disloyal, including Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, both of whom lost their primaries.

If Democrats gain three Senate seats in the midterms, they would secure a majority. It is also considered highly likely that Democrats will win a majority in the House of Representatives.

The defeated Republican incumbents will remain in Congress until next January. Last week, Senators adjourned early for a one-week recess without completing their business, after some Republican members blocked finance bills over a dispute about a planned fund for what they called 'victims of justice under Biden.'

USA correspondent Barbara Colpi noted that the Texas result exemplifies the broader tension within the Republican Party between Trump loyalists and more traditional conservatives, with significant implications for the midterm elections and the balance of power in Washington.