Fight between Texas Republicans for US Senate seat leaves party on edge

The Guardian - World NewsEN 2 min read 100% complete by Lauren Gambino in AustinMarch 4, 2026 at 02:00 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary for a US Senate seat. The race is expected to head to a runoff election. National Republicans are concerned that Paxton, a controversial figure, could jeopardize the party's hold on the reliably Republican seat in the November election, potentially diverting resources from other key Senate races. Cornyn has emphasized his electability and record of supporting Trump's agenda, while Paxton has touted his connection to the former president. Despite facing legal and ethical scandals, Paxton has led in most polls, raising concerns among establishment Republicans about the potential impact on the general election.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Waco 30% National Republican Senatorial Committee 40% Wesley Hunt 40% Texas House 50% United States Senate ×370% Donald Trump ×470% Republican Party ×580% John Cornyn ×690% Texas ×490% Ken Paxton ×890%

Keywords

texas republican primary 100% us senate seat 80% john cornyn 80% ken paxton 80% republican party 70% runoff election 60% donald trump 50% conservative culture warrior 50% electability 40% scandals 40%