In a significant political development for Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton has secured the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. Paxton defeated four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the primary runoff, as projected by the Associated Press shortly after polls closed.

Paxton, who announced his Senate bid in April 2025, has had a long career in Texas politics, including his tenure as Attorney General since 2014. His victory was celebrated with enthusiasm at his election night event, where supporters chanted his name as he took the stage. Paxton attributed his success to the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, stating, “When everyone in Washington told him to abandon me and abandon the people of Texas, he didn’t listen. President Trump is the leader of our party, and his endorsement is the most powerful force in politics.”

Paxton’s campaign emphasized a need for change in Texas, a sentiment he expressed during an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham. As he prepares for the general election, Paxton will face Democratic nominee James Talarico, a state representative from the Austin area and former San Antonio teacher. Talarico’s campaign focuses on economic equality, particularly addressing the disparity between billionaires and struggling Americans.

Talarico launched his campaign last September, drawing on his experience as a public school teacher on San Antonio’s West Side to shape his policy views. The upcoming election will determine who will represent Texas in the U.S. Senate for the next six years.

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Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.