John Cornyn’s last stand and Democratic fights: What to watch in Tuesday’s Texas elections
The Texas primary runoffs on Tuesday will feature a significant Senate race between GOP Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has received an endorsement from former President Trump. This endorsement has raised concerns among party members about Paxton's potential to jeopardize the Senate seat due to his past controversies. Additionally, the runoffs will include House races that could impact the Democratic incumbents and the overall balance of power in Congress.
- ▪Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton has shifted the dynamics of the GOP Senate primary in Texas.
- ▪Cornyn narrowly led Paxton in the initial primary, but neither secured a majority, leading to the runoff.
- ▪Concerns have been raised about Paxton's past controversies, including impeachment on bribery and corruption charges.
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2026 ElectionJohn Cornyn’s last stand and Democratic fights: What to watch in Tuesday’s Texas primary runoffsTrump’s decision to back state Attorney General Ken Paxton against GOP Sen. John Cornyn jolted the Republican Senate primary in Texas.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleTrump endorses Ken Paxton in Texas GOP Senate runoff00:58Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDTBy Ben Kamisar and Bridget BowmanTuesday’s primary runoffs in Texas will put President Donald Trump’s endorsement to the test again — the latest step in a mission to punish some incumbent Republicans Trump has deemed insufficiently loyal.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Trump is backing…
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