In a move that is set to ignite one of the most heated and costly Republican battles of 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced his intention to run for the U.S. Senate.
The announcement comes as a direct challenge to Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a respected figure within the GOP conference in Washington. Paxton, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, made his intentions known on Tuesday after a year of speculation regarding his potential Senate bid.
According to The Associated Press, Paxton has spent the past year positioning himself as a national leader among the GOP's hard right. He has been at the forefront of launching some of the first criminal investigations in the U.S. over abortion bans and gender-affirming care for transgender youth. His decision to enter the race comes at a time when he has managed to shake off legal troubles that have plagued him for nearly a decade, but have not hindered his ability to secure re-election twice.
Paxton stated on Fox News The Ingraham Angle, Im running for U.S. Senate to fight for President Trumps agenda and take a sledgehammer to the D.C. establishment. He further added, Together, lets send John Cornyn packing.
In response, Cornyn's campaign labeled Paxton a "fraud" and highlighted his impeachment in 2023 following accusations of corruption by eight of his closest aides, who reported him to the FBI. Despite these allegations, Paxton was acquitted in a trial by the Texas Senate, where his wife serves as a state senator but was not permitted to vote. Cornyns campaign assured Texans that they would have a real choice when the race concludes.
Paxton's decision to run underscores his political resilience and popularity among Texas Republicans, despite a decade of legal challenges that have included felony securities fraud charges, impeachment, and an FBI corruption investigation. His legal woes were eventually resolved when he reached a deal to end the criminal case, and the Biden administration decided not to prosecute him.
Cornyn, who lost his bid to lead the GOP as Senate majority leader in November, will likely face his most competitive campaign since taking office in 2002. He has been a significant fundraiser for the party throughout his career and has collaborated with Democrats on bipartisan bills. However, his suggestion that Trump might not be the best Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election has drawn criticism from Paxton and other Republicans.
Paxton has also voiced his dissatisfaction with Cornyn's support of a 2022 bipartisan gun bill that strengthened background checks for buyers under 21, increased prosecution for unlicensed sellers, and provided funds for youth mental health services following the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers.
Despite his legal battles, Paxton has gained recognition on the right for his litigation against former President Joe Biden. He notably led a lawsuit attempting to overturn Trump's loss to Biden in 2020, an effort that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected.
In 2023, the GOP-controlled Texas House voted to impeach Paxton for bribery offenses related to a wealthy real estate donor. However, he was acquitted in the Senate, where he once served as a lawmaker. The Justice Department decided not to pursue its investigation into Paxton over the allegations in the final weeks of former President Bidens term.
Earlier this month, a district court awarded a combined $6.6 million to four former senior Paxton aides in a whistleblower lawsuit after they were fired shortly after reporting Paxtons actions to the FBI. Paxtons office has stated that he will appeal.
In 2022, Paxton won a runoff against Republican George P. Bush, who made Paxton's legal troubles the cornerstone of his primary challenge. As of now, no Democrat has announced their candidacy for next years Senate race in Texas, a state where the Democratic party hasnt won a statewide office in over 30 years.
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