4 sources·Politics

Ken Paxton Announces Primary Challenge Against John Cornyn for U.S. Senate

Texas AG Ken Paxton launches a primary challenge against Sen. John Cornyn, signaling a contentious GOP Senate race in 2026.

The distribution of story sources: left-leaning (blue), center (light gray), and right-leaning (red).
Reliable
The underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
Balanced
The underlying sources are either a balanced mix of left and right or primarily centrist.
  2. Texas AG Ken Paxton launches Senate primary challenge against Republican Sen. John Cornyn

    Paxton’s decision to enter the race highlights his political resiliency and popularity among Texas Republicans after a decade of legal woes that, at times, seemed to imperil his future: felony securities fraud charges, impeachment after an extraordinary revolt by his closest aides and an FBI corruption investigation.

    Texas AG Ken Paxton launches Senate primary challenge against Republican Sen. John Cornyn

    Associated PressAssociated Press·10d
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  3. Axios

    The Republican party is bracing for a slugfest in Texas, with two state-wide elected officials, both with deep fundraising networks, preparing to go toe-to-toe in a state Trump won by 14 percentage points in November.

    Axios

    AxiosAxios·10d
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  4. Texas AG to : Challenging Sen. Cornyn in '26 Primary

    Paxton's candidacy poses the most serious threat to Cornyn, 73, since the four-term senator and former Texas attorney general was first elected in 2002.

    Texas AG to : Challenging Sen. Cornyn in '26 Primary

    NewsmaxNewsmax·10d
    Mixed Reliable
    This source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.
    ·
    Right
    This outlet favors right-wing views.
  1. NBC News
  2. Associated Press
  3. Axios
  4. Newsmax
Updated: Apr 9th, 2025, 2:24 AM ET

Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn. Paxton, supported by Trump, has focused on party values and criticized Cornyn’s record. Their contest is expected to be costly and contentious, reflecting a divide within the GOP. Cornyn’s camp counters that Paxton is a 'fraud', highlighting Paxton’s impeachment and legal controversies. The race, showcasing contrasting Republican factions, is shaping up as both politicians head into a bruising primary season.

Perspectives

Compare opinions on this story from liberal (Left), conservative (Right) or center-leaning news organizations.

  • Ken Paxton's entry into the Senate race against John Cornyn highlights a division within the Republican Party, with Paxton representing a more hard-right faction and Cornyn embodying a traditional conservative approach.

  • Despite facing serious legal controversies in the past, including impeachment, Paxton enjoys significant support among Texas Republicans and aims to fight for Trump's agenda in Washington.

  • The election is expected to be intensely competitive and expensive, reflecting broader tensions within the GOP as candidates appeal to different segments of their voter base.

FAQs

A list of follow-up questions readers often ask about this story.