Ken Paxton, the scandal-ridden Texas attorney general backed by Donald Trump, has beaten incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff, signalling the president's enduring influence in the deep red state. After the race was called, Cornyn said he would support the GOP ticket in the midterms, where Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico.
Paxton brings significant baggage to the general election. He was impeached in 2023 on corruption charges but later acquitted in a trial in the Texas Senate, where his wife was a state senator (though not allowed to vote). He was also indicted for felony securities fraud, a case dismissed after a 2024 pre-trial diversion agreement. Last year, his wife filed for divorce on biblical grounds, citing adultery.
Paxton's Democratic opponent, James Talarico, faces long odds in Texas but has built popularity through a message of peace and populism. Ahead of the primary, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, a former Democratic Senate candidate, said: 'If Ken Paxton becomes the candidate, Talarico has a shot.'
