{"id":870,"date":"2026-05-27T04:33:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T04:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jacksonvillemovingnews.com\/?p=870"},"modified":"2026-05-27T04:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T04:33:31","slug":"john-cornyn-concedes-trump-backed-ken-paxton-beats-texass-senior-senator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jacksonvillemovingnews.com\/?p=870","title":{"rendered":"John Cornyn concedes, Trump-backed Ken Paxton beats Texas’s senior senator"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Texas Attorney General\u00a0Ken Paxton\u00a0won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the latest contest in which President Donald Trump sought to defeat an incumbent he saw as insufficiently loyal.<\/p>\n

Read more Woman has warning after ex-boyfriend caught on video shooting her in Coral Springs<\/a><\/p>\n

Trump endorsed Paxton last week. Paxton’s victory in Tuesday\u2019s runoff makes Cornyn the first Republican senator from Texas to lose the party\u2019s nomination for reelection.<\/p>\n

With 48% of the votes counted, NBC News projects Ken Paxton has defeated incumbent senior U.S. Sen. John Cornyn by more than 25 points. <\/p>\n

Paxton’s challenger in November will be Texas Rep. James Talarico, who won his March primary. In a video posted on social media Tuesday night, Talarico said Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America and “embodies the broken system we’re running against.”<\/p>\n

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was quick to congratulate the state’s attorney general on social media, saying he had a “resounding victory” and that he will next “destroy Talarico and become the next US Senator from the state of Texas.”<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKen Paxton has defeated longtime U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in one of the most closely watched Republican runoffs in the country. The victory marks a major political win for Paxton and a significant test of President Donald Trump\u2019s influence inside the GOP after Trump endorsed Paxton late in the race. Paxton now advances to the general election, where he\u2019ll face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in a race expected to draw national attention and could help shape control of the U.S. Senate.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

Talarico wastes no time launching attacks on Paxton as \u2018corrupt\u2019<\/h2>\n

Within minutes of Paxton being declared the winner of the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate, the Democrat called him \u201cthe most corrupt politician in America\u201d in a social media post.<\/p>\n

Talarico’s campaign then released the following statement: “Today, James Talarico released his first general election video, titled \u201cThe People vs. Ken Paxton,\u201d reintroducing the nation to the Most Corrupt Politician in America. Tomorrow marks the three-year anniversary of Ken Paxton\u2019s impeachment \u2014 a scathing rebuke by his own party for using his public office to enrich himself and his donors at the expense of working people. This election will be an indictment of the broken, corrupt political system that Ken Paxton embodies \u2014 the system that makes everything more expensive for working Texans by prioritizing billionaire mega-donors over people. The way to fix it is clear: working people coming together across partisan divides \u2014 The People vs. Ken Paxton.”<\/p>\n

In a post on social media, Talarico invited Cornyn\u2019s supporters to vote for him. \u201cYou have a place in our campaign,\u201d Talarico wrote.<\/p>\n

Sen. Cruz congratulates Paxton, praises Cornyn’s service in Washington<\/h2>\n

Junior U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statement on the Texas Senate race after the state’s senior senator conceded the race to Paxton. After the election this November, Cruz will become the state’s senior senator.<\/p>\n

“Congratulations to Attorney General Ken Paxton on tonight\u2019s victory. He has my full support and endorsement as the Republican nominee. Ken is a fearless conservative who spent years taking on Texas\u2019s toughest battles as Attorney General and has proven that he will always fight for and defend the Lone Star State. He will continue that fight in the U.S. Senate, and I look forward to fighting alongside him. I also want to congratulate and thank my friend Senator John Cornyn for his many years of dedicated service to Texas and our country. It has been an honor to serve alongside him for over a decade. He spent decades fighting for the Lone Star State, and his service in the Senate has left a significant mark on Texas and the nation. Heidi and I are grateful for his friendship, and we wish John and his family the very best. Now, it\u2019s time to unite to make sure that Texas stays Texas. James Talarico is radical, dangerous, and does not represent the values, ideas, or principles of the Lone Star State. Defeating him is critical.”<\/p>\n

Texas Democrats respond to Paxton’s decisive win<\/h2>\n

\u201cKen Paxton has spent decades in office abusing his power to serve special interests and enrich himself at Texans\u2019 expense \u2013 and in November, we\u2019re going to put a stop to his corruption. As Attorney General, Paxton traded favors with lobbyists and his wealthy donors so shamelessly that even his own party tried to remove him from office for alleged bribery and abuse of his position. And while Paxton became a multimillionaire, he cheered the policies that spiked the cost of gas, groceries, health care, and utility bills and made life harder for Texans. We are sick and tired of this kind of corruption from self-serving politicians \u2013 and that\u2019s why voters are going to elect James Talarico in November to represent all <\/em>Texans, not just the rich and powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump celebrates Paxton\u2019s win and touts his endorsement<\/h2>\n

The president posted a graphic depicting himself and Paxton on his social media platform, Truth Social, with the words \u201cKen Paxton wins! Endorsed by President Trump!\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s picks dominated their runoff elections. Each Trump-backed congressional candidate won their\u00a0runoff\u00a0with double-digit margins, continuing Trump\u2019s\u00a0winning streak\u00a0with his endorsements.<\/p>\n

Allred is getting his old House seat back<\/h2>\n

Allred left the House to run for U.S. Senate in 2024, when he lost a challenge to GOP Sen. Ted Cruz.<\/p>\n

He was running for Senate again this cycle, but dropped his bid on the same day Rep. Jasmine Crockett announced she was running.<\/p>\n

He then said he would run again for the House. He defeated Rep. Julie Johnson, who had replaced him in Washington.<\/p>\n

Paxton supporter: His \u2018warts\u2019 will not be an issue<\/h2>\n

Rick Swarts, a Paxton supporter who drove from his home in Austin to see the candidate, isn\u2019t worried that the ethical and personal questions the attorney general faces will do any damage to him in the general election.<\/p>\n

\u201cJames Talarico is such a weak candidate, any warts Paxton has will not be an issue,\u201d Swarts said outside the ballroom where Paxton\u2019s supporters were celebrating. \u201cHe always lands on his feet. Like Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swarts said Talarico is so out-of-step with mainstream voters, \u201cBeto O\u2019Rourke is going to look like a hardcore conservative when it\u2019s all over.\u201d O\u2019Rourke, a former Texas congressman, ran a competitive Senate race against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018.<\/p>\n

Paxton ends his speech<\/h2>\n

The victor finished his remarks much like they began.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for making history,\u201d he said, before wading into the crowd to shake hands and greet supporters.<\/p>\n

Paxton attacks Talarico as a \u2018radical\u2019 and urges Republicans to unify ahead of general election<\/h2>\n

\u201cThis campaign is not about red versus blue. It\u2019s about so much more. My opponent is the most extreme radical the Democrats have ever nominated,\u201d Paxton told the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is James Talarico is going to be nothing more than a Texas-faced puppet for Chuck Schumer and the national Democrats,\u201d Paxton warned.<\/p>\n

Paxton also predicted Talarico is \u201cgoing to raise more money than any Democrat in America\u201d and urged his followers to donate to his campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Republicans lose this state, we lose the country,\u201d Paxton warned.<\/p>\n

Paxton takes the stage<\/h2>\n

\u201cTonight we just made history,\u201d he told cheering supporters.<\/p>\n

The state attorney general paid tribute to Trump for his endorsement despite the objections of Senate Republican leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen everyone in Washington told him to abandon me and abandon the people of Texas, he didn\u2019t listen,\u201d Paxton said. \u201cInstead he gave his complete and total endorsement. President Trump is the leader of our party and his endorsement is the most powerful force in politics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Republicans\u2019 Senate campaign arm attacks Talarico without mentioning GOP runoff candidates<\/h2>\n

\u201cA state President Trump won by nearly 14 points isn\u2019t going to elect James Talarico \u2014 a radical leftist who thinks God is nonbinary and that Texas should be a welcome mat for illegals,\u201d said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Samantha Cantrell in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is the most dangerous flank of the far left. Texas isn\u2019t swapping brisket for open borders,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Cornyn is a former chair of the NRSC. He was endorsed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Sen. Tim Scott, the current NRSC chair.<\/p>\n

House Majority PAC congratulates Garcia\u2019s win over candidate condemned for antisemitic remarks<\/h2>\n

\u201cMike Johnson and Republican leadership wasted millions of dollars supporting an avowed antisemite, and failed,\u201d House Majority PAC spokesperson Katarina Flicker said in a statement. \u201cHMP is proud to support Johnny Garcia, and we look forward to seeing the GOP dummymander backfire in November.\u201d<\/p>\n

A super PAC that backed Galindo, Lead Left, was accused by Democrats of being funded by Republicans.<\/p>\n

Galindo has made several remarks that were condemned by national Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as antisemitic and unwelcome in the party.<\/p>\n

Johnny Garcia wins the Democratic primary for Texas\u2019 35th US House District<\/h2>\n

National Democrats stepped in to help Garcia win House nomination as the party was seeking to defeat Garcia\u2019s rival, Maureen Galindo, who has repeatedly expressed antisemitic views.<\/p>\n

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called her comments \u201cdisgusting\u201d and said it shouldn\u2019t be near \u201cour politics.\u201d Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Suzan DelBene also weighed in.<\/p>\n

Republicans redrew the 35th District to help the GOP win more House seats, but Democrats think they may have a chance to flip it. They worried that if Galindo won, her past comments would hurt the party.<\/p>\n

Paxton draws Trump comparisons at victory party<\/h2>\n

Aidan Shull, in a cowboy hat and jeans, called Paxton \u201ca really good change of pace.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old Paxton supporter was attending the candidate\u2019s watch party-turned celebration with his fianc\u00e9e, Brooke Peters.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not new, but he feels new. It\u2019s very similar to Trump 2016,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s giving us hope for change at a time when we really need it in Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peters credited Paxton for his long list of lawsuits as attorney general as proof that he cares about people.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very strong-headed. We\u2019ve seen what he\u2019s done, and he\u2019s gone after people,\u201d the 19-year-old said. \u201cAnd he\u2019s going to keep doing that for Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornyn says he \u2018kept the faith\u2019<\/h2>\n

\u201cServing others is a high purpose. And while much about politics is ugly, we choose to serve through the good, the bad and the ugly,\u201d Cornyn said of his time in office.<\/p>\n

He cited a speech from President Teddy Roosevelt about \u201cfighting in the arena\u201d and a verse from the New Testament that reads: \u201cI have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornyn says he\u2019ll support Paxton in the general election<\/h2>\n

\u201cTonight we\u2019ve come up short,\u201d Cornyn said to the gathered reporters. \u201cA few years ago, I had a friend of mine say, \u2018You know what makes God laugh?\u2019 he said, \u2018When we make plans.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornyn thanked his campaign staff and family, and said he\u2019s spent his career building the Republican Party in Texas and the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always supported the Republican ticket,\u201d he said, \u201cand I intend to do so again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Club for Growth backs Paxton and attacks Talarico<\/h2>\n

The conservative organization endorsed the Texas attorney general on Tuesday night and released an advertisement arguing that Talarico is out of step with Texan culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cTexas is a conservative state and deserves a real conservative in the Senate. Ken Paxton has consistently stood up against Democrats and the establishment in Austin to defend the rule of law and freedoms for every Texan,\u201d said a statement from Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. He argued Talarico \u201chas spent his career promoting woke gender ideology, fighting against meat consumption, and opposing the values Texans cherish.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ad includes\u00a0multiple videos of Talarico\u2019s past comments\u00a0on faith, activism and gender, including one clip in which the state representative said he sounded \u201clike a crazy person\u201d and another in which he said that people should \u201ctry to reduce our meat consumption\u201d to fight climate change.<\/p>\n

Cornyn\u2019s unusual watch party goes quiet as the race is called<\/h2>\n

The room was full of journalists and no supporters, so as the race call that Paxton won went out, the only sounds were fingers tapping at keyboards and television reporters shuffling in front of cameras to prepare to go live.<\/p>\n

Then the murmur of those reports filled out the silence. Cornyn is expected to speak shortly.<\/p>\n

Paxton\u2019s supporters celebrate<\/h2>\n

Cheers rang through the ballroom as Van Halen\u2019s \u201cJump\u201d throbbed through Paxton\u2019s election night party, while the stage was filled with people holding the candidate\u2019s campaign signs.<\/p>\n

Paxton wins Republican Senate primary runoff<\/h2>\n

The win also marks another victory for Trump, who endorsed Paxton as part of his effort to dislodge GOP officeholders he views as less than devout in their support of him.<\/p>\n

Cornyn is now the first Republican senator from Texas to lose the party\u2019s nomination for reelection.<\/p>\n

Paxton will face Talarico in November. It\u2019s the matchup that Democrats wanted, and some in the GOP are nervous about how much it will cost to try to keep the seat in Republican hands.<\/p>\n

Cheers at Paxton event when Texas comes on screen<\/h2>\n

A cheer erupted among the roughly 50 supporters of the Texas attorney general in the Plano hotel ballroom when the large TV screen flashed to CNN\u2019s coverage of the Republican Texas Senate runoff.<\/p>\n

The crowd is awaiting returns for their candidate in his challenge of four-term Republican Sen. John Cornyn, snacking on tacos and drinking beer.<\/p>\n

The mood is festive and upbeat, as Paxton staff have projected optimism, especially in light of Trump\u2019s endorsement of Paxton a week ago.<\/p>\n

Cowboy hats and boots, on women and men, are common, as are suits and cocktail dresses in the Dallas-Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center in the upscale shopping and dining area near Dallas, where Paxton is expected to speak later.<\/p>\n

Read more Deal or no deal? Trump\u2019s social media posts add confusion to Iran conflict<\/a><\/p>\n

Cornyn\u2019s watch party isn\u2019t typical<\/h2>\n

That\u2019s because it\u2019s almost exclusively journalists packed in an austere hotel meeting room in downtown Austin. There aren\u2019t crowds of excited supporters or the pomp of champagne glasses and white tablecloths. A few small campaign signs are stuck to the walls, and a lone podium is backdropped by a screen emblazoned with the candidate\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

The senator is expected to enter the room to speak once the race is called. Otherwise, reporters are milling around chairs, going live on their television channels and reloading the voting results online.<\/p>\n

Angela Paxton doesn\u2019t endorse in Texas Senate race<\/h2>\n

The Texas state senator posted several endorsements on social media for the Republican primary runoff. But there was no mention of the U.S. Senate campaign between her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.<\/p>\n

Angela Paxton was a key fixture in Ken Paxton\u2019s previous campaigns. She stood by him throughout his Texas Senate impeachment trial in 2023 and allegations of an extramarital affair. But she\u2019s now seeking a divorce and has cited \u201cbiblical grounds\u201d among her reasons for the split.<\/p>\n

Angela Paxton urged Republicans to vote in several statewide offices, including the one her husband is leaving behind.<\/p>\n

Democrat votes for Paxton to boost Talarico\u2019s chances<\/h2>\n

Jessica Shaw, 46, who swung out of a polling place in a brightly colored dress in the hot Austin sun, had a strategy in mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI voted for Ken Paxton because I think he is most likely to lose against Talarico,\u201d she said, because Paxton is \u201csuch a morally bankrupt person\u201d that he\u2019ll turn general election voters away.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an argument that Cornyn has made frequently on the campaign trail, saying he\u2019s the better contender to face Talarico. In this case, a registered Democrat agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this strategy doesn\u2019t work and (Paxton) wins\u201d in the general election, said Shaw, who then raised her hands in a shrug. \u201cSomething needs to change, or I think people will move out of Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaw gave a parting message before loading into her Volvo: \u201cVote against Trump at all costs!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornyn voter: Trump\u2019s endorsement ‘doesn\u2019t have any effect’<\/h2>\n

Debbie Burdeaux strode out of the Haggard Library in Plano sporting a fresh \u201cI voted\u201d sticker. Her choice in the Texas Republican Senate runoff? John Cornyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he\u2019s done a good job for this state, and I am not a fan of Paxton,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Trump endorsed the four-term incumbent senator’s opponent, Paxton, last week.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have a problem with Trump,\u201d she said. \u201cBut he doesn\u2019t have any effect on my vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burdeaux, a 69-year-old retired substitute teacher and geologist, expressed what others who have voted for Cornyn have said in this precinct: a strong distaste for Paxton.<\/p>\n

Some Republicans have said Paxton’s previous scandals could discourage GOP voters from backing him in November.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a disgrace,\u201d Burdeaux said. \u201cI want nothing to do with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s endorsement is enough for this Paxton voter<\/h2>\n

Paul Olson was quick to say why he voted for Paxton: \u201cHe\u2019s conservative and backed by Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 72-year-old retired finance executive elaborated a little, saying, \u201cI just think he represents more of what middle-class America needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olson said he was perturbed that Cornyn, the incumbent, had been airing ads projecting himself as a Trump devotee despite Trump\u2019s endorsement of Paxton.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe claims he\u2019s got Trump\u2019s backing, and he most certainly doesn\u2019t,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Olson was among a steady stream of voters arriving over the noon hour at the Haggard Library in Plano.<\/p>\n

Confident in his choice, Olson still expressed some worry that some conservatives might be less inclined to vote in November if costs for daily expenses, most notably fuel, remain elevated.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they end this war soon, then good. Energy drives the cost of everything, and prices will settle,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they have to end this war quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s just a toady for Trump\u2019<\/h2>\n

Lee Rodriguez, a 76-year-old registered independent, said he planned to vote for Cornyn outside a polling place in Austin, Texas, mainly because he is a \u201cstable person; he\u2019s willing to reach across the aisle.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Rodriguez, that\u2019s in stark contrast to Paxton, who \u201cis too corrupt\u201d and an \u201cextremist,\u201d he said, echoing Cornyn\u2019s talking points about past Paxton scandals, including allegations of an affair.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s endorsement of Paxton reaffirmed his fears that \u201che\u2019s just a toady for Trump,\u201d said Rodriguez, who did not vote for Trump in 2024.<\/p>\n

Cornyn \u2018definitely the lesser of two evils\u2019<\/h2>\n

Linda Williams walked into the steamy, sundrenched parking lot outside of Haggard Library in Plano, outside of Dallas, on Tuesday around noon.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaxton is a no-go!\u201d she said of the state attorney general, but was little more enthused about Cornyn, for whom she voted and who is fighting for his political future in the Republican Senate runoff.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was definitely the lesser of two evils,\u201d the 73-year-old, retired administrative support staffer from Plano said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCornyn has not been the check on Trump we need. He used to be more respectable,\u201d Williams said. \u201cBut the way he has coddled Trump and bragged about voting with him? It\u2019s an embarrassment.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was all out of Williams\u2019 sense of pragmatism.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least he\u2019ll have a better chance against Talarico,\u201d she said with reference to the Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Paxton is a crook.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump is wrapping up a month of reshaping the GOP<\/h2>\n

This has been a big month for Republican primaries and Trump\u2019s influence over his party.<\/p>\n

On May 5, he successfully campaigned against\u00a0five of the seven Indiana state senators who rejected his redistricting plan.<\/p>\n

On May 16, he helped dislodge\u00a0Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict Trump in the Jan. 6 impeachment trial five years ago. Cassidy finished third in the primary, failing to make the runoff, while Trump\u2019s choice, Rep. Julia Letlow, finished first.<\/p>\n

On May 19,\u00a0Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky\u00a0lost his primary to Ed Gallrein, whom Trump endorsed. Massie had frustrated the president by voting against his signature tax legislation and pushing to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.<\/p>\n

If Paxton wins, it would be a dramatic punctuation mark on the month.<\/p>\n

Paxton\u2019s supporters brush off years of scandals<\/h2>\n

The attorney general has faced an impeachment effort and criminal investigations, but his supporters say they\u2019re not concerned.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s had his flaws, but so have we; we all make mistakes,\u201d said Daniel Vega, 18, adding, \u201cHe\u2019s repented; let\u2019s move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others said they appreciated his aggressive conservative politics.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a fighter. He\u2019s a person of action. He\u2019s proven that as attorney general,\u201d said Jeffrey Sonnier, 72.<\/p>\n

Cornyn and his allies have dumped money into the race<\/h2>\n

Throughout the campaign, Cornyn has had the cash advantage. The senator and his allies have spent roughly $90 million in advertising, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.<\/p>\n

That includes more than $20 million since the March 3 primary.<\/p>\n

Paxton is supported by a single super PAC, and combined, they\u2019ve spent about $10.5 million on advertising. Roughly $6.1 million has been spent since March 3.<\/p>\n

What we\u2019re watching: the geographic split between Cornyn and Paxton<\/h2>\n

There wasn\u2019t a clear geographic divide in the\u00a0March 3 primary results. The tight margins in Houston, Dallas and their surrounding areas underscore how the battle lines cut across, rather than neatly between, Texas\u2019s urban and suburban regions.<\/p>\n

Cornyn \u2014 whom Paxton attacked as too aligned with D.C. Republicans and not loyal enough to Trump \u2014 led in the state\u2019s largest counties, including those encompassing the metro areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Houston. But Paxton remained competitive, trailing by roughly 1,900 votes in Harris County, home to Houston, and 4,100 votes in Bexar County, home to San Antonio.\u00a0Tuesday\u2019s runoff\u00a0could be decided by who builds a stronger geographic base, particularly in the Houston area, where Rep. Wesley Hunt, who finished third, outperformed his state average.<\/p>\n

A GOP voter who backed Cornyn leans toward supporting Democrat Talarico<\/h2>\n

Dallas-area contractor Raymond Schramm said Tuesday that he\u2019s concerned about healthcare and Republican-authored cuts in subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage, and he has misgivings about how the war with Iran has been conducted.<\/p>\n

He voted for President Donald Trump but thinks the Senate needs someone who will \u201chave a little bit of a difference.\u201d He likes Talarico because he seems kind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like him. He\u2019s a nice guy. He speaks well,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t believe in the party system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornyn says Trump\u2019s attacks on him are misplaced<\/h2>\n

\u201cMy situation is a little different than Massie\u2019s or Cassidy\u2019s,\u201d said Cornyn, referencing two other Republican incumbents who were more critical of Trump and recently lost their primaries under pressure from the president and candidates he backed.<\/p>\n

In his case, Cornyn said on Fox News Radio\u2019s The Brian Kilmeade Show, Trump is \u201cfrustrated I think with the Senate as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are \u201cgrifters,\u201d the senator continued, who are \u201cclaiming I am opposed to the president\u2019s agenda and I think that\u2019s caused some confusion with the president himself, but I\u2019ve been supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018We might as well start term limits now,\u2019 for Cornyn, one Dallas-area voter says<\/h2>\n

Legal assistant Calise Perry considers herself \u201c100%\u201d Republican and voted Tuesday for challenger Ken Paxton over incumbent Cornyn in Texas\u2019s GOP runoff.<\/p>\n

The 65-year-old Garland resident said Paxton, the Texas attorney general, is a fighter, \u201cand that\u2019s what we need right now.\u201d The runoff came a week after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton.<\/p>\n

\u201cCornyn\u2019s been in way too long, and it\u2019s time for him to retire,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s been in office a long time and really hasn\u2019t done much, as far as I can see.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Cornyn and Paxton ended up in a runoff<\/h2>\n

The Republicans were the\u00a0top two vote-getters\u00a0in the March 3 primary, but neither candidate won the majority needed to secure the GOP nomination outright.<\/p>\n

Cornyn finished with 42% of the vote, while Paxton won 40.5%, according to\u00a0certified results.<\/p>\n

Three other candidates were on the primary ballot. They included U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who won 13.5% of the vote.<\/p>\n

Democrats will also choose the U.S. House nominees<\/h2>\n

Newly elected Rep. Christian Menefee and veteran Rep. Al Green are vying for the party nod in Texas\u2019s 18th District, which the Republican-led Texas Legislature redrew last year to help the GOP. <\/p>\n

The new map led to a contest between incumbents and marks the end of a dizzying series of elections in the Houston area. Menefee was elected in a special runoff in January to the seat previously held by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in March 2025. Menefee finished narrowly ahead of Green in the March 3 primary but didn\u2019t win a majority to avoid the runoff.<\/p>\n

Former Rep. Colin Allred and U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson are competing in the Dallas-area 33rd District. Johnson was elected to the seat in 2024, the year Allred lost his U.S. Senate challenge to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Allred was running for Senate again this cycle, but dropped his bid and is now looking to return to the House.<\/p>\n

Near San Antonio, Democratic leaders are trying to prevent Maureen Galindo, who has expressed antisemitic views, from winning the party\u2019s runoff with Johnny Garcia. While Texas lawmakers redrew the 35th District to help Republicans, Democrats view it as within reach and don\u2019t want Galindo\u2019s past comments to impede them.<\/p>\n

Read more Cuba warns of \u2018bloodbath\u2019 as U.S. pressure campaign intensifies<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating four-term Sen. John Cornyn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-decision-2026"],"yoast_head":"\nJohn Cornyn concedes, Trump-backed Ken Paxton beats Texas's senior senator - Jacksonville Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/jacksonvillemovingnews.com\/?p=870\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"John Cornyn concedes, Trump-backed Ken Paxton beats Texas's senior senator - Jacksonville Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating four-term Sen. 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