With only six months left before Texas kicks off its primary season for the 2026 midterm elections, the race for the U.S. Senate is heating up. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn is facing off against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a well-known figure within the MAGA movement and a close ally of former President Donald Trump. The primary battle is tightening, creating a scenario that some political analysts didn’t foresee just a couple of months ago.
Initially, Paxton had a significant lead over Cornyn, with double-digit advantages in polling earlier this summer. However, recent surveys indicate a more competitive landscape, prompting intense scrutiny and bitter exchanges between the two candidates. A memo from the Cornyn campaign, shared exclusively with Fox News Digital, argues that “the current state of the race paints a far different picture” than those previously perceived. It states that momentum is shifting toward Cornyn, suggesting that the polls may not fully capture the evolving dynamics of the race.
Paxton’s campaign has also faced challenges recently, with what they described as “Ken Paxton’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Summer.” The fallout included his wife filing for divorce on “biblical grounds” and ongoing allegations of mortgage fraud. During an interview on Fox Business, Paxton defended himself against these criticisms. “John Cornyn doesn’t tell the full story. He slants it to make it seem like something bad happened,” he asserted firmly.
Paxton remains confident about the support he receives from Texas Republicans. He emphasized that voters are aware of what both candidates have done during their political careers. “In a primary, they know what John Cornyn hasn’t done. They know what he has done,” Paxton claimed. He criticized Cornyn’s voting record on key issues, asserting that many Texas Republicans feel Cornyn has not upheld their values, particularly regarding the Second Amendment and border security.
Cornyn’s campaign, however, maintains that he has aligned closely with Trump on various issues, claiming to have voted in favor of Trump’s agenda more than 99% of the time. Senior adviser Matt Mackowiak stressed that more Texas GOP voters are recognizing Cornyn’s achievements. “The reason is Texas GOP primary voters are learning more about Senator Cornyn’s record of voting with President Trump,” Mackowiak stated, indicating a strategic focus on appealing to loyal Republican voters.
Notably, as tensions rise between Cornyn and Paxton, there is speculation that another Republican could enter the Senate primary race. Three-term Representative Wesley Hunt is reportedly considering a run. As a rising figure in the MAGA space, Hunt aims to position himself as a candidate who can unify the party’s base and attract general election votes. Sources have indicated that Hunt has already engaged with Trump’s political team, emphasizing his potential to win in both Republican primaries and the general election.
With Paxton and Cornyn trading barbs and each trying to assert their dominance in the race, the 2026 Texas Republican primary is shaping up to be a contentious clash. Voters will have to weigh the candidates’ differing records, their responses to controversies, and their alignment with the broader Republican agenda under Trump. As the campaign progresses, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will unfold and who will emerge as the leading candidate when Texas votes.
"*" indicates required fields
