Texas Senate primary: Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in major upset

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has defeated veteran incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary for the US Senate seat in Texas. The race carries broader implications for whether Democrats could regain control of the Senate during the latter half of the Trump presidency.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has pulled off a significant upset in the Republican Senate primary in Texas, defeating long-serving incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a race that drew national attention.

The result marks a dramatic shake-up in Texas Republican politics, as Cornyn — a senior figure in the US Senate — was ousted by Ken Paxton, who has built his political profile through high-profile legal battles and staunch alignment with the conservative wing of the GOP.

The outcome of the Texas Senate race now takes on broader national significance. Texas, traditionally a Republican stronghold, becomes a more competitive battleground if a less established candidate heads into the general election. Democrats are eyeing opportunities to flip Senate seats and reclaim the chamber's majority during the second half of Donald Trump's presidency.

Political analysts note that Paxton's victory reflects the ongoing transformation of the Republican Party, with primary voters consistently favoring candidates who embrace a more combative, populist style over traditional establishment figures, even those with decades of congressional experience.