Paxton Announces Candidacy

April 8, 2025 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary. Paxton made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” positioning himself as a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and a critic of the Republican establishment.

Paxton has enlisted Axiom Strategies, a prominent Republican consulting firm, to manage his campaign. This move indicates a potentially contentious and costly primary battle ahead.

Senator Cornyn, who has served since 2002, has faced criticism from within his party for his bipartisan efforts, including support for a 2022 gun control bill and reservations about Trump’s 2024 candidacy. Despite this, Cornyn’s campaign has defended his pro-Trump voting record and dismissed Paxton as a “fraud.”

Paxton’s candidacy introduces a significant challenge to Cornyn, highlighting the ongoing divisions within the Republican Party between establishment figures and those aligned with Trump’s agenda. The primary is expected to be fiercely contested and could have substantial implications for the party’s direction in Texas.​