BREAKING NEWS: Ken Paxton Announces Senate Run, Takes Aim at John Cornyn in High-Stakes Republican Showdown.
In an exclusive interview on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced his candidacy for the United States Senate, directly challenging Republican Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 GOP primary.
This race promises to be a titanic clash within the GOP, highlighting the growing divide between the party establishment and the pro-Trump wing.
Paxton, visibly enthusiastic, chose Laura Ingraham’s show to make his announcement. “I’m announcing that I’m running for the United States Senate against John Cornyn, who apparently plans to run again for a fifth term, which would take him to three decades in office,” Paxton stated.
He emphasized that “it’s definitely time for a change in Texas,” pointing to the need for a senator who will “fight for Republican values” and “support Donald Trump.”
The Attorney General didn’t hold back in criticizing Cornyn, who has served in the Senate for 24 years. “It’s hard to think of anything he’s done right for Texas or for the country,” Paxton said, specifically citing Cornyn’s “lack of willingness” to fund the border wall and his support for gun restrictions following the 2022 Uvalde shooting.
He also accused Cornyn of opposing Trump—both in the 2016 election and in the most recent one—according to remarks made during the interview.
Paxton took the opportunity to invite viewers to visit his campaign website, Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate, and support his run, making clear his intention to serve as a check on the political establishment.
“It’s time someone held him accountable,” Paxton said, referring to Cornyn, whom he accused of failing to deliver meaningful results for Texas.
Ingraham noted that Cornyn, upon hearing rumors of Paxton’s potential candidacy, responded: “Obviously, when you run for office, you get your papers graded—once every six years in my case. And I look forward to having that conversation.”
Paxton, however, dismissed the senator’s response, insisting that Cornyn’s 24 years in office have been “enough,” given his “lack of results.”
The announcement comes on the heels of a legal victory for Paxton: on April 5, 2025, the Department of Justice closed a federal corruption investigation against him.
This development gives Paxton a significant boost as he prepares to take on Cornyn, who has drawn criticism for supporting a $95.3 billion aid package to Ukraine in 2024—a measure that Paxton and other Texas Republican leaders opposed.
The 2026 race is shaping up to be a battleground between the GOP’s traditional wing, represented by Cornyn, and the pro-Trump movement embodied by Paxton.
Texas is on the brink of a primary race that could redefine the future of the Republican Party in the state.
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