Texas Attorney General defeated four-term Sen. on Tuesday in a massively expensive, drawn-out race.
Paxton was endorsed by President Donald Trump last week, and his victory showcased the president鈥檚 power over his party as he seeks to punish Republicans he sees as .
Paxton will run against Democratic state Rep. in November.
Democrats also voted to choose U.S. House nominees on Tuesday at the polls.
Here is the Latest:
House Majority PAC congratulates Garcia鈥檚 win over candidate condemned for antisemitic remarks
鈥淢ike Johnson and Republican leadership wasted millions of dollars supporting an avowed antisemite, and failed,鈥� House Majority PAC spokesperson Katarina Flicker said in a statement. 鈥淗MP is proud to support Johnny Garcia, and we look forward to seeing the GOP dummymander backfire in November.鈥�
A super PAC that backed Galindo, Lead Left, was accused by Democrats of being funded by Republicans.
Galindo has made several remarks that were condemned by national Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as antisemitic and unwelcome in the party.
Allred is getting his old House seat back
Allred left the House to run for U.S. Senate in 2024, when he lost a challenge to GOP Sen. Ted Cruz.
He was running for Senate again this cycle but dropped his bid on the same day Rep. Jasmine Crockett announced she was running.
He then said he would run again for the House. He defeated Rep. Julie Johnson, who had replaced him in Washington.
Trump celebrates Paxton鈥檚 win and touts his endorsement
The president posted a graphic depicting himself and Paxton on his social media platform, Truth Social, with the words 鈥淜en Paxton wins! Endorsed by President Trump!鈥�
Trump鈥檚 picks dominated their runoff elections. Each Trump-backed congressional candidate won their with double-digit margins, continuing Trump鈥檚 with his endorsements.
Republicans鈥� Senate campaign arm attacks Talarico without mentioning GOP runoff candidates
鈥淎 state President Trump won by nearly 14 points isn鈥檛 going to elect James Talarico 鈥� a radical leftist who thinks God is nonbinary and that Texas should be a welcome mat for illegals,鈥� said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Samantha Cantrell in a statement.
鈥淗e is the most dangerous flank of the far left. Texas isn鈥檛 swapping brisket for open borders,鈥� she added.
Cornyn is a former chair of the NRSC. He was endorsed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Sen. Tim Scott, the current NRSC chair.
Johnny Garcia wins the Democratic primary for Texas鈥� 35th US House District
National Democrats stepped in to help Garcia win House nomination as the party was seeking to defeat Garcia鈥檚 rival, Maureen Galindo, who has repeatedly expressed antisemitic views.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called her comments 鈥渄isgusting鈥� and said it shouldn鈥檛 be near 鈥渙ur politics.鈥� Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Suzan DelBene also weighed in.
Republicans redrew the 35th District to help the GOP win more House seats, but Democrats think they may have a chance to flip it. They worried that if Galindo won, her past comments would hurt the party.
Cruz congratulates both Paxton and Cornyn after divisive Senate runoff contest
Texas鈥� junior U.S. senator said Paxton 鈥渉as my full support and endorsement as the Republican nominee鈥� in a social media post. He called Paxton a 鈥渇earless conservative who spent years taking on Texas鈥檚 toughest battles as attorney general鈥� and said he expected Paxton to prevail in the general election.
鈥淚 look forward to fighting alongside him,鈥� Cruz wrote.
Cruz then he went on to commend Cornyn鈥檚 years of service.
鈥淚 also want to congratulate and thank my friend Senator John Cornyn for his many years of dedicated service to Texas and our country. It has been an honor to serve alongside him for over a decade.鈥�
He then called on Texans to oppose Talarico鈥檚 Senate race, arguing the Texas Democrat 鈥渋s radical, dangerous, and does not represent the values, ideas, or principles of the Lone Star State. Defeating him is critical.鈥�
Paxton supporter: His 鈥榳arts鈥� will not be an issue
Rick Swarts, a Paxton supporter who drove from his home in Austin to see the candidate, isn鈥檛 worried that the ethical and personal questions the attorney general faces will do any damage to him in the general election.
鈥淛ames Talarico is such a weak candidate, any warts Paxton has will not be an issue,鈥� Swarts said outside the ballroom where Paxton鈥檚 supporters were celebrating. 鈥淗e always lands on his feet. Like Trump.鈥�
Swarts said Talarico is so out-of-step with mainstream voters, 鈥淏eto O鈥橰ourke is going to look like a hardcore conservative when it鈥檚 all over.鈥� O鈥橰ourke, a former Texas congressman, ran a competitive Senate race against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018.
Paxton ends his speech
The victor finished his remarks much like they began.
鈥淭hank you for making history,鈥� he said, before wading into the crowd to shake hands and greet supporters.
Paxton attacks Talarico as a 鈥榬adical鈥� and urges Republicans to unify ahead of general election
鈥淭his campaign is not about red versus blue. It鈥檚 about so much more. My opponent is the most extreme radical the Democrats have ever nominated,鈥� Paxton told the crowd.
鈥淭he reality is James Talarico is going to be nothing more than a Texas-faced puppet for Chuck Schumer and the national Democrats,鈥� Paxton warned.
Paxton also predicted Talarico is 鈥済oing to raise more money than any Democrat in America鈥� and urged his followers to donate to his campaign.
鈥淚f Republicans lose this state, we lose the country,鈥� Paxton warned.
Paxton takes the stage
鈥淭onight we just made history,鈥� he told cheering supporters.
The state attorney general paid tribute to Trump for his endorsement despite the objections of Senate Republican leaders.
鈥淲hen everyone in Washington told him to abandon me and abandon the people of Texas, he didn鈥檛 listen,鈥� Paxton said. 鈥淚nstead he gave his complete and total endorsement. President Trump is the leader of our party and his endorsement is the most powerful force in politics.鈥�
Paxton draws Trump comparisons at victory party
Aidan Shull, in a cowboy hat and jeans, called Paxton 鈥渁 really good change of pace.鈥�
The 21-year-old Paxton supporter was attending the candidate鈥檚 watch party-turned celebration with his fiancee, Brooke Peters.
鈥淗e鈥檚 not new but he feels new. It鈥檚 very similar to Trump 2016,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 giving us hope for change at a time when we really need it in Washington.鈥�
Peters credited Paxton for his long list of lawsuits as attorney general as proof he cares about people.
鈥淗e鈥檚 very strong-headed. We鈥檝e seen what he鈥檚 done, and he鈥檚 gone after people,鈥� the 19-year-old said. 鈥淎nd he鈥檚 going to keep doing that for Texas.鈥�
Talarico wastes no time launching attacks on Paxton as 鈥榗orrupt鈥�
Within minutes of Paxton being declared the winner of the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate, the Democrat called him 鈥渢he most corrupt politician in America鈥� in a social media post.
鈥淗e embodies the broken system we鈥檙e running against,鈥� Talarico wrote on X. In another post, he invited Cornyn鈥檚 supporters to vote for him.
鈥淵ou have a place in our campaign,鈥� Talarico wrote.
Cornyn says he 鈥榢ept the faith鈥�
鈥淪erving others is a high purpose. And while much about politics is ugly, we choose to serve through the good, the bad and the ugly,鈥� Cornyn said of his time in office.
He cited a speech from President Teddy Roosevelt about 鈥渇ighting in the arena鈥� and a verse from the New Testament that reads: 鈥淚 have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.鈥�
Cornyn says he鈥檒l support Paxton in the general election
鈥淭onight we鈥檝e come up short,鈥� Cornyn said to the gathered reporters. 鈥淎 few years ago, I had a friend of mine say, 鈥榊ou know what makes God laugh?鈥� he said, 鈥榃hen we make plans.鈥欌��
Cornyn thanked his campaign staff and family, and said he鈥檚 spent his career building the Republican Party in Texas and the U.S. Senate.
鈥淚鈥檝e always supported the Republican ticket,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd I intend to do so again.鈥�
Club for Growth backs Paxton and attacks Talarico
The conservative organization endorsed the Texas attorney general on Tuesday night and released an advertisement arguing that Talarico is out of step with Texan culture.
鈥淭exas is a conservative state and deserves a real conservative in the Senate. Ken Paxton has consistently stood up against Democrats and the establishment in Austin to defend the rule of law and freedoms for every Texan,鈥� said a statement from Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. He argued Talarico 鈥渉as spent his career promoting woke gender ideology, fighting against meat consumption, and opposing the values Texans cherish.鈥�
The ad includes on faith, activism and gender, including one clip where the state representative said he sounded 鈥渓ike a crazy person鈥� and another where he said that people should 鈥渢ry to reduce our meat consumption鈥� to fight climate change.
Cornyn鈥檚 unusual watch party goes quiet as race is called
The room was full of journalists and no supporters, so as the race call that Paxton won went out, the only sounds were fingers tapping at keyboards and television reporters shuffling in front of cameras to prepare to go live.
Then the murmur of those reports filled out the silence. Cornyn is expected to speak shortly.
Paxton鈥檚 supporters celebrate
Cheers rang through the ballroom as Van Halen鈥檚 鈥淛ump鈥� throbs through Paxton鈥檚 election night party, while the stage filled with people holding the candidate鈥檚 campaign signs.
Paxton wins Republican Senate primary runoff
The win also marks another victory for Trump, who endorsed Paxton as part of his effort to dislodge GOP officeholders he views as less than devout in their support of him.
Cornyn is now the first Republican senator from Texas to lose the party鈥檚 nomination for reelection.
Paxton will face Talarico in November. It鈥檚 the matchup that Democrats wanted, and some in the GOP are nervous about how much it will cost to try to keep the seat in Republican hands.
Cheers at Paxton event when Texas comes on screen
A cheer erupted among the roughly 50 supporters of the Texas attorney general in the Plano hotel ballroom when the large TV screen flashed to CNN鈥檚 coverage of the Republican Texas Senate runoff.
The crowd is awaiting returns for their candidate in his challenge of four-term Republican Sen. John Cornyn, snacking on tacos and drinking beer.
The mood is festive and upbeat, as Paxton staff have projected optimism, especially in light of Trump鈥檚 endorsement of Paxton a week ago.
Cowboy hats and boots, on women and men, are common, as are suits and cocktail dresses in the Dallas-Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center in the upscale shopping and dining area near Dallas where Paxton is expected to speak later.
Cornyn鈥檚 watch party isn鈥檛 typical
That鈥檚 because it鈥檚 almost exclusively journalists packed in an austere hotel meeting room in downtown Austin. There aren鈥檛 crowds of excited supporters or the pomp of champagne glasses and white tablecloths. A few small campaign signs are stuck to the walls, and a lone podium is backdropped by a screen emblazoned with the candidate鈥檚 name.
The senator is expected to enter the room to speak once the race is called. Otherwise, reporters are milling around chairs, going live on their television channels and reloading the voting results online.
Most polls are closed
Most of Texas is in the Central time zone, where polls closed at 7 p.m. local time, or 8 p.m. ET.
A far western part of the state is in the Mountain time zone, so polls there will close an hour later, at 9 p.m. ET.
Angela Paxton doesn鈥檛 endorse in Texas Senate race
The Texas state senator posted several endorsements on social media for the Republican primary runoff. But there was no mention of the U.S. Senate campaign between her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
Angela Paxton was a key fixture in Ken Paxton鈥檚 previous campaigns. She stood by him throughout his Texas Senate impeachment trial in 2023 and allegations of an extramarital affair. But she鈥檚 now seeking a divorce and has cited 鈥渂iblical grounds鈥� among her reasons for the split.
Angela Paxton urged Republicans to vote in several statewide offices, including the one her husband is leaving behind.
Democrat votes for Paxton to boost Talarico鈥檚 chances
Jessica Shaw, 46, who swung out of a polling place in a brightly colored dress in the hot Austin sun, had a strategy in mind.
鈥淚 voted for Ken Paxton because I think he is most likely to lose against Talarico,鈥� she said, because Paxton is 鈥渟uch a morally bankrupt person鈥� that he鈥檒l turn general election voters away.
It鈥檚 an argument that Cornyn has made frequently on the campaign trail, saying he鈥檚 the better contender to face Talarico. In this case, a registered Democrat agreed.
鈥淚f this strategy doesn鈥檛 work and (Paxton) wins鈥� in the general election, said Shaw, who then raised her hands in a shrug. 鈥淪omething needs to change, or I think people will move out of Texas.鈥�
Shaw gave a parting message before loading into her Volvo: 鈥淰ote against Trump at all costs!鈥�
Cornyn voter: Trump鈥檚 endorsement ‘doesn鈥檛 have any effect’
Debbie Burdeaux strode out of the Haggard Library in Plano sporting a fresh 鈥淚 voted鈥� sticker. Her choice in the Texas Republican Senate runoff? John Cornyn.
鈥淏ecause he鈥檚 done a good job for this state, and I am not a fan of Paxton,鈥� she said.
Trump endorsed the four-term incumbent senator’s opponent, Paxton, last week.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a problem with Trump,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut he doesn鈥檛 have any effect on my vote.鈥�
Burdeaux, a 69-year-old retired substitute teacher and geologist, expressed what others who have voted for Cornyn have said in this precinct: a strong distaste for Paxton.
Some Republicans have said Paxton’s previous scandals could discourage GOP voters from backing him in November.
鈥淗e is a disgrace,鈥� Burdeaux said. 鈥淚 want nothing to do with him.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 endorsement is enough for this Paxton voter
Paul Olson was quick to say why he voted for Paxton: 鈥淗e鈥檚 conservative and backed by Trump.鈥�
The 72-year-old retired finance executive elaborated a little, saying, 鈥淚 just think he represents more of what middle-class America needs.鈥�
Olson said he was perturbed that Cornyn, the incumbent, had been airing ads projecting himself as a Trump devotee despite Trump鈥檚 endorsement of Paxton.
鈥淗e claims he鈥檚 got Trump鈥檚 backing, and he most certainly doesn鈥檛,鈥� he said.
Olson was among a steady stream of voters arriving over the noon hour at the Haggard Library in Plano.
Confident in his choice, Olson still expressed some worry that some conservatives might be less inclined to vote in November if costs for daily expenses, most notably fuel, remain elevated.
鈥淚f they end this war soon, then good. Energy drives the cost of everything, and prices will settle,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut they have to end this war quickly.鈥�
鈥楬e鈥檚 just a toady for Trump鈥�
Lee Rodriguez, a 76-year-old registered independent, said he planned to vote for Cornyn outside a polling place in Austin, Texas, mainly because he is a 鈥渟table person; he鈥檚 willing to reach across the aisle.鈥�
To Rodriguez, that鈥檚 in stark contrast to Paxton, who 鈥渋s too corrupt鈥� and an 鈥渆xtremist,鈥� he said, echoing Cornyn鈥檚 talking points about past Paxton scandals, including allegations of an affair.
Trump鈥檚 endorsement of Paxton reaffirmed his fears that 鈥渉e鈥檚 just a toady for Trump,鈥� said Rodriguez, who did not vote for Trump in 2024.
Cornyn 鈥榙efinitely the lesser of two evils鈥�
Linda Williams walked into the steamy, sundrenched parking lot outside of Haggard Library in Plano, outside of Dallas, on Tuesday around noon.
鈥淧axton is a no-go!鈥� she said of the state attorney general, but was little more enthused about Cornyn, for whom she voted and who is fighting for his political future in the Republican Senate runoff.
鈥淚t was definitely the lesser of two evils,鈥� the 73-year-old, retired administrative support staffer from Plano said.
鈥淐ornyn has not been the check on Trump we need. He used to be more respectable,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淏ut the way he has coddled Trump and bragged about voting with him? It鈥檚 an embarrassment.鈥�
It was all out of Williams鈥� sense of pragmatism.
鈥淎t least he鈥檒l have a better chance against Talarico,鈥� she said with reference to the Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico.
鈥淏ecause Paxton is a crook.鈥�
Trump is wrapping up a month of reshaping the GOP
This has been a big month for Republican primaries and Trump鈥檚 influence over his party.
On May 5, he successfully campaigned against who rejected his redistricting plan there.
On May 16, he helped dislodge , who voted to convict Trump in the Jan. 6 impeachment trial five years ago. Cassidy finished third in the primary, failing to make the runoff, while Trump鈥檚 choice, Rep. Julia Letlow, finished first.
On May 19, lost his primary to Ed Gallrein, who Trump endorsed. Massie had frustrated the president by voting against his signature tax legislation and pushing to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.
If Paxton wins, it would be a dramatic punctation mark on the month.
Paxton鈥檚 supporters brush off years of scandals
The attorney general has faced an impeachment effort and criminal investigations, but his supporters say they鈥檙e not concerned.
鈥淗e鈥檚 had his flaws, but so have we; we all make mistakes,鈥� said Daniel Vega, 18, adding, 鈥淗e鈥檚 repented; let鈥檚 move on.鈥�
Others said they appreciated his aggressive conservative politics.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a fighter. He鈥檚 a person of action. He鈥檚 proven that as attorney general,鈥� said Jeffrey Sonnier, 72.
Cornyn and his allies have dumped money into the race
Throughout the campaign, Cornyn has had the cash advantage. The senator and his allies have spent roughly $90 million in advertising, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
That includes more than $20 million since the March 3 primary.
Paxton is supported by a single super PAC, and combined they鈥檝e spent about $10.5 million on advertising. Roughly $6.1 million has been spent since March 3.
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