Texas GOP Senate primary heads to runoff, with Cornyn, Paxton on ballot

Texas Republicans will face a May 26 runoff election for the U.S. Senate seat after incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton failed to secure enough votes in Tuesday's primary, according to a Decision Desk HQ projection, as both candidates seek to maintain Republican control of the seat. The competitive primary, which drew national attention due to Texas's status as a reliably red state, resulted in neither candidate reaching the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff, setting up a high-stakes showdown between two prominent Republican figures. Sen. John Cornyn, seeking his fourth term in the Senate, has positioned himself as a pragmatic conservative with a focus on border security and judicial appointments. His opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has cultivated a more hardline conservative image and has drawn support from former President Donald Trump's wing of the party. The primary results reflected the ongoing ideological tensions within the Republican party, with Cornyn representing the establishment wing and Paxton appealing to the more populist, MAGA-aligned faction. The May 26 runoff will likely intensify the ideological battle within Texas's Republican party, with both candidates expected to emphasize their conservative credentials while highlighting their differences on key issues. The winner will face a Democratic challenger in the general election, though the seat is widely expected to remain in Republican hands given Texas's strong Republican leanings.