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

The defeat of Cornyn, a well-connected figure in Washington who was previously discussed as a potential Senate leader, is part of a broader purge of Republican incumbents perceived as insufficiently loyal to Trump. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana also lost their primaries to Trump-backed challengers.

A Loyalty Purge

Paxton, 63, has served as Texas Attorney General since 2014. He studied psychology and law, worked as a lawyer, and founded a church with his wife, with whom he has four children. He previously served in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate starting in 2002.

As Attorney General, Paxton pursued hardline immigration policies, opposed abortion, and opposed LGBTQ rights. He sued the federal governments of Barack Obama and Joe Biden multiple times, including challenges to the Affordable Care Act.

Paxton's career has been marked by numerous scandals. He faced an impeachment proceeding that many of his own party colleagues voted in favor of, though he survived the vote. He has been indicted on charges of securities fraud and abuse of office, and has faced allegations of bribery, nepotism, and corruption.

A History of Scandals

His marriage ended following an extramarital affair that was closely tied to corruption allegations. A friend and major donor helped Paxton, and in return Paxton helped him politically and legally, according to investigators.

Many Republicans are skeptical of Paxton's nomination, fearing his legal troubles and scandals will deter moderate voters in the fall general election. The moderate Republican wing is particularly concerned about the financial cost of Paxton's legal battles diverting funds from the campaign against the Democrat.

Democrats see an opportunity to win the Senate seat in Texas, a state that has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than sixty years. James Talarico is the Democratic candidate running for the seat.

Democratic Hopes in Texas

The outcome of the Texas Senate race could determine which party controls the majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats would need to gain three Senate seats in the midterms to win a majority in that chamber, and it is considered highly likely that they will win a majority in the House of Representatives.

In recent years, the Republican Party has lost three Senate seats because Trump backed loyal but controversial candidates who struggled in general elections. The November elections will determine control of the U.S. Congress.

The Republican incumbents who lost their primaries, including Cornyn, will remain in Congress until next January. Last week, Senators adjourned early for a one-week recess without completing their business, as some Republican members blocked finance bills because they opposed a planned fund for what they called 'victims of justice under Biden'.