It’s officially confirmed…
Ken Paxton is gunning for John Cornyn’s Senate seat in 2026. The Texas attorney general says it’s time for new blood and tougher spine in the Lone Star State’s Republican leadership.
On Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Paxton slammed Cornyn for, in his opinion, repeatedly breaking with President Donald Trump and failing to defend core conservative priorities—especially the America First agenda.
“There’s certainly many things to focus on that he has not done,” Paxton said.
He called out Cornyn’s support for gun control in the wake of the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, school shooting and continued U.S. aid to Ukraine, accusing him of putting “Inside the Beltway” politics and foreign interests ahead of Texans. “Senator Ukraine,” Paxton quipped. He also slammed Cornyn’s long career in Washington, vowing to “take a sledgehammer to the D.C. establishment.”
Paxton’s no stranger to a fight. First elected attorney general in 2014, he’s survived years of political and legal heat—most notably a high-profile impeachment effort in 2023. The Texas House filed 20 articles of impeachment against him, including allegations of bribery, dereliction of duty, disregard of official duty and obstruction of justice. However, he was acquitted by the Senate and walked away stronger, positioning himself as a MAGA loyalist who won’t bend to political pressure. He’s won three statewide elections and built a reputation as a combative figure willing to go head-to-head with both Democrats and members of his own party.
The Hill reports on Paxton’s most ambitious target yet: a Republican leader who claimed on Wednesday that Paxton deceives voters by gaining their trust and making them believe things that are not true:
Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) called state Attorney General Ken Paxton a “con man” and “fraud” after Paxton launched his primary challenge to the sitting senator, vowing he would fight back against Paxton’s candidacy and win the GOP nomination.
Cornyn told reporters on Wednesday in comments filmed by The Daily Caller that President Trump’s agenda is the “biggest potential loser” from Paxton’s candidacy as potentially “hundreds of millions of dollars” will need to be spent on the Texas Senate race, preventing that amount from being used in other states like Michigan, New Hampshire and Georgia next year.
“Obviously, Mr. Paxton has a checkered past,” Cornyn said. “He is a con man and a fraud, and I think the people of Texas know that. This is what will be litigated over the course of this campaign.”
Now, with Cornyn seeking a fifth term and trailing Paxton by 20 points in early GOP primary polling, the stage is set for a brutal Republican showdown. Trump’s endorsement could swing the race—but it’s far from guaranteed. Trump has publicly criticized Cornyn before, calling him “weak” and “ineffective,” leaving the senator in a vulnerable spot as 2026 approaches.
This isn’t just another primary. It’s a power struggle for the soul of the Texas GOP.
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