U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are headed to a runoff election after neither candidate secured a majority in Tuesday’s Republican primary for U.S. Senate.
As of publication, Cornyn held a narrow lead with 42.5 percent of the vote to Paxton’s 40.8 percent. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt trailed behind them, ensuring the contest will continue into a second round of voting.
Under Texas law, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote to win a primary outright. The top two candidates will now advance to a runoff election scheduled for May 26.
Paxton addressed supporters Tuesday night at an election watch party in Dallas hosted by the pro-Paxton Lone Star Liberty PAC, thanking volunteers and supporters who helped propel the race into a runoff.
“Together with your support, we just sent a message loud and clear to Washington,” Paxton said. “Texas is not for sale.”
Paxton argued that despite massive spending in support of the incumbent senator, a majority of Republican primary voters chose someone else.
“Nearly 60 percent of Texas voters, who have known Cornyn for over 40 years, after hearing $100 million worth of ads, chose to vote against the incumbent,” Paxton said. “That’s historic.”
The attorney general repeatedly contrasted his record in statewide office with Cornyn’s tenure in Washington, criticizing the senator over issues including immigration, gun policy, and cooperation with Democrats in Congress.
“When he compromised, we fought,” Paxton said, pointing to lawsuits his office filed against the Biden administration while he has served as attorney general.
Cornyn, who did not hold an election night event, spoke briefly with reporters Tuesday evening.
“I’ve worked for decades to build the Republican Party, both here in Texas and nationally,” Cornyn said. “I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we’ve worked so hard to build over these many years.”
Cornyn’s campaign spokesman Matt Mackowiak said last week that the campaign did not plan to hold an election night celebration because it does not “do halftime parties.”
Hunt held an election night gathering in Houston but did not advance to the runoff.
The race has been one of the most closely watched Republican primaries in the country, featuring sharp exchanges between Cornyn and Paxton over loyalty to President Donald Trump, border policy, federal spending, and the direction of the Republican Party.
Cornyn, first elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving as Texas attorney general, has faced increasing criticism from grassroots conservatives during the primary campaign.
Paxton, who has served as attorney general since 2015, positioned himself as the more combative alternative, highlighting his legal challenges against the Biden administration and his record among conservative activists.
The runoff between the two statewide Republicans is expected to draw national attention and heavy spending as both campaigns attempt to consolidate support ahead of the May election.
Notably, neither candidate has been endorsed by President Donald Trump so far.
Meanwhile, in the Democrat primary, State Rep. James Talarico was leading U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the party’s nomination at the time of publication.
