Trump-backed Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in Texas Senate primary, raising GOP fears for November

Cornyn, who was once considered a potential Senate leader, had occasionally criticized Trump in the past. Trump called him 'disloyal' and pushed for his removal, mirroring successful efforts against Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, both of whom also lost their primaries.

A controversial candidate with a long history

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

His tenure has been marked by aggressive legal actions against Democrats, corporations, and nonprofit organizations. He sued the federal governments of Barack Obama and Joe Biden multiple times, including over the Affordable Care Act, and pursued hardline immigration policies while opposing abortion and LGBTQ rights.

Paxton has also been embroiled in multiple scandals. He has faced allegations of securities fraud, bribery, abuse of office, and nepotism. He survived an impeachment proceeding that numerous party colleagues voted in favor of, and his marriage ended because of an affair closely tied to corruption allegations.

Democratic hopes in a deep-red state

A friend and major donor helped Paxton, and in return Paxton helped him politically and legally, according to the allegations. Many Republicans are skeptical of his nomination, fearing his scandals will deter voters in the fall.

The Democratic candidate for the Senate seat is James Talarico. Democrats see an opportunity to win the seat following the Republican primary result, even though Texas has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than sixty years.

Talarico hopes to attract disappointed Republican Cornyn voters and Latino voters who have increasingly voted Republican in recent years. If Democrats gain three Senate seats in the midterms, they would achieve a majority in the Senate.

National stakes of a Texas race

The outcome of the Texas Senate race could determine which party controls the majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats are already considered highly likely to win a majority in the House of Representatives.

Republican incumbents who lost to Trump loyalists remain in Congress until next January. Last week, Senators adjourned early for a one-week recess without completing their business, and some Republicans blocked finance bills because they opposed a planned fund for what Trump calls 'victims of justice under Biden'.

The U.S. midterm elections are scheduled for early November.