TX RINO and Trump Critic’s Days Could Be Numbered as Paxton Enters Senate Race [WATCH]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, confirming that he will challenge incumbent Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in the 2026 Republican primary.

The announcement was made during a live appearance Tuesday night on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle.

“Well, first of all, I’m excited to be on your show to do this. It’s a great place to do it. I’m announcing that I’m running for U.S. Senate against John Cornyn, who apparently is running again for his fifth term, which would put him there three decades,” Paxton told host Laura Ingraham.

Elon Musk Called This Financial News ‘Terrifying’

“It’s definitely time for a change in Texas. We have another great U.S. Senator, Ted Cruz. And it’s time we have another great senator that will actually stand up and fight for Republican values, fight for the values of the people of Texas and also support Trump, Donald Trump, in the areas that he’s focused on in a very significant way,” Paxton added.

Paxton’s official entry into the race comes shortly after Cornyn, 73, launched his re-election campaign.

FREE Concealed Carry Gun Laws & Reciprocity Map

Cornyn, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2002, confirmed his intention to seek a fifth term earlier this month.

When asked about the expected primary challenge, Cornyn responded that he is looking forward to “the competition.”

Paxton has served as Texas Attorney General since 2015 and has maintained close ties with President Donald Trump throughout his tenure.

In 2023, he faced an impeachment trial brought by a group of Republicans led by former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan.

Paxton was acquitted following the trial and has since characterized the proceedings as politically motivated.

Cornyn has faced criticism from conservative voters in Texas over his positions on a range of issues.

His vote to co-sponsor bipartisan gun legislation following the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde drew backlash from Second Amendment advocates.

The law, passed in response to the deaths of 19 children and two teachers, was described as the most significant gun control measure enacted in decades.

In addition to his stance on gun policy, Cornyn has drawn ire from Trump-aligned Republicans for his remarks about the president.

During a 2023 conference call with Texas reporters, Cornyn said, “I think President Trump’s time has passed him by,” and added, “I don’t think President Trump understands that when you run in a general election, you have to appeal to voters beyond your base.”

Paxton has repeatedly criticized Cornyn over those remarks and other positions, labeling him a “RINO,” or Republican in Name Only.

Paxton has also taken aim at Cornyn’s opposition to Trump’s border wall funding efforts during the 2016 and 2020 election cycles.

“I can’t think of a single thing he’s accomplished for our state or even for the country,” Paxton said in a 2023 interview with Fox News.

“Somebody needs to step up and run against this guy,” he added, “everything’s on the table for me.”

Paxton’s candidacy is expected to gain traction among Republican voters in Texas. A recent poll conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates shows Paxton leading Cornyn by a wide margin.

In the initial ballot test, Paxton leads 53% to Cornyn’s 28%.

After respondents are given background on the candidates, the gap grows significantly, with 70% supporting Paxton and only 14% backing Cornyn.

The primary contest is likely to become one of the most closely watched Republican races of the 2026 cycle, especially given Cornyn’s seniority and Paxton’s high-profile legal and political history in the state.

American Made Patriotic Apparel – Save 15% with Promo Code MERICA