Texas’ Republican Senate runoff between Attorney General Ken Paxton and longtime U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has become one of the nation’s most closely watched political contests, exposing growing divisions within the Republican Party ahead of the November election.
The race intensified this week after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton, a move that political analysts say could significantly influence conservative voters in the May 26 runoff.
Cornyn, who has represented Texas in the Senate since 2002 and previously served as the Senate Republican whip, has campaigned on his experience in Washington and record of delivering federal resources to Texas. He has also emphasized his longstanding ties to Republican leadership and national security issues.
Paxton, meanwhile, has positioned himself as a more aggressive conservative aligned with Trump’s political movement. During the campaign, he has criticized Cornyn as part of the Republican establishment and argued that Texas voters want a senator who will more directly support Trump’s agenda in Congress.
The runoff follows a competitive Republican primary in which neither candidate secured the majority needed to avoid a second round of voting. The contest has since attracted national attention and millions of dollars in campaign spending from political action committees, donors and outside groups seeking to shape the future direction of the Republican Party.
The race is also being viewed as an early test of Trump’s continued influence over Republican voters in Texas, a state that has long been considered a GOP stronghold but where some recent statewide races have narrowed.
Political observers say the outcome could have implications beyond Texas. Some Republicans believe Cornyn would be a stronger general election candidate because of his broader appeal among moderate and suburban voters. Others argue Paxton’s alignment with Trump could energize conservative turnout.
Democrats are also closely watching the runoff, viewing the increasingly contentious Republican battle as a possible opportunity to compete more aggressively in November, particularly if divisions within the GOP continue after the primary concludes.
Early voting has already begun across Texas, with turnout expected to increase significantly over the Memorial Day weekend ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.