- Ken Paxton, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, secured a victory over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
- This outcome, which occurred on May 26, 2026, reinforces Trump's significant influence within the Republican Party, marking another instance of a Trump-backed candidate unseating an incumbent.
- Paxton's win is a major blow to the Republican establishment in Texas and Washington, who had supported Cornyn, according to The Texas Tribune.
- The victory sets the stage for Paxton to face the Democratic nominee, identified as Austin state Rep. James Talarico, in the upcoming general election.
- Al Jazeera noted that Paxton's win highlights Trump's continuing influence over the Republican Party and dealt a major blow to the party establishment in Washington, DC.
- Cornyn's defeat makes him the first Republican senator from Texas to lose his party's nomination for re-election, ending over three decades of his electoral dominance.
Trump-Backed Paxton Wins Texas Runoff
In a stunning upset on May 26, 2026, Donald Trump-backed Ken Paxton unseated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff. This historic victory, marking the first time a Texas Republican senator has lost a primary, underscores Trump's enduring power within the GOP, dealing a significant blow to the party establishment and setting Paxton up to face Democrat James Talarico in the general election.
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