Intense Texas Senate Race: Cornyn vs. Paxton

In the final stretch of the Texas Senate race, voters observed the quiet yet intense battle between Republican candidates. Senator John Cornyn and State Attorney General Ken Paxton were noticeably absent from public campaign events as they focused efforts on advertising campaigns.

The fight for the GOP nomination has led to a substantial advertising push, exceeding $109 million, largely from Cornyn. He scheduled a non-campaign event in San Antonio celebrating high school graduates heading to military academies, following his last public appearance in Corpus Christi on Friday.

Paxton, with his last events in Austin and San Antonio, relied heavily on his campaign’s advertising message emphasizing President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Trump had endorsed Paxton on May 19, dismissing Cornyn who had previously downplayed Trump’s 2024 comeback prospects. Trump’s rebuke of Cornyn was strong, paralleling his criticism of Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy. This trend of retribution has been evident in Indiana and Kentucky GOP primaries.

Voter turnout in Texas is expected to engage only a fraction of the 18.7 million eligible voters. Campaign ads continue to flood the airwaves, with Cornyn’s supporters outspending Paxton’s by almost nine-to-one throughout the year. Recently, the gap narrowed, reducing Cornyn’s advantage to less than double in the final campaign week.

Cornyn’s ads attacked Paxton over ethics and personal issues, while reinforcing his own Senate record of supporting Trump’s priorities. Conversely, Paxton’s campaign, supported by Lone Star Liberty Fund, shifted focus on Trump’s endorsement, while targeting Democratic nominee James Talarico.