The showdown between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn in the Texas GOP primary showcases the fierce ideological battleground shaping the future of the Republican Party.
At a Glance
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary.
- The race highlights a deep ideological divide between the establishment and “America First” wings of the GOP.
- Both candidates are aggressively seeking the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
- Cornyn has attacked Paxton as a “con man and a fraud,” citing his legal issues, while Paxton questions Cornyn’s loyalty to Trump.
An Intra-Party War in Texas
A high-stakes political battle is officially underway in Texas as Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a primary challenge against longtime incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn. The 2026 race is set to be a brutal and expensive showdown that epitomizes the ideological civil war raging within the Republican Party between its establishment wing, represented by Cornyn, and its populist, “America First” faction, championed by Paxton.
The contest is already being called “the nastiest race in the modern era of Texas politics, period,” by Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak, as reported by NBC News.
The Fight for Trump’s Blessing
Central to the primary is the aggressive effort by both candidates to secure the coveted endorsement of President Donald Trump. Paxton, who has built his political brand on his unwavering loyalty to Trump, is attacking Cornyn for any perceived deviation from the former president’s agenda. “While John was criticizing Trump and suggesting he shouldn’t run, I was at Mar-a-Lago,” Paxton has said, drawing a sharp contrast for primary voters.
Cornyn, who has a solidly conservative voting record but was booed at a recent Texas GOP convention for being perceived as insufficiently aligned with Trump, is now working to reaffirm his MAGA credentials while simultaneously going on the offensive against Paxton.
Cornyn’s “Con Man” Attack
Cornyn has launched a blistering attack on Paxton, focusing on the Attorney General’s significant legal troubles, which include a recent acquittal in an impeachment trial and ongoing state securities fraud charges. “Mr. Paxton has a checkered background; he is a con man and a fraud, and I think the people of Texas know that,” Cornyn stated bluntly. “I am not going to turn over the Senate seat that was once held by Sam Houston to someone like him.”
As detailed by The Texas Tribune, Cornyn has amassed the support of fellow Senate Republicans and establishment groups, hoping to fend off Paxton’s insurgent campaign. However, Paxton has proven to be a resilient political fighter with a powerful grassroots base, setting the stage for a dramatic and unpredictable race for the heart and soul of the Texas Republican Party.
