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During an appearance on Fox News with host Laura Ingraham Tuesday evening, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he is throwing his hat in the ring for U.S. Senate, in an attempt to take the seat current held by fellow Republican Sen. John Cornyn.
Cornyn, 73, has held the Senate seat since December 2002. Prior to that, he too was attorney general of Texas, from January 1999 to December 2002.
Paxton said 22 years holding a U.S. Senate seat is way too long, and he is hoping to oust Cornyn during the 2026 GOP primary.
Paxton, 62, has served as Texas attorney general for 10 years, since January 2015. Prior to that, he served in the Texas state senate from 2013-2015, and in the Texas House of Representatives for 10 years, from 2003-2013.
“It’s official. I’m running for U.S. Senate to fight for President Trump’s agenda and take a sledgehammer to the D.C. establishment. Together, let’s send John Cornyn packing: http://KenPaxton.com,” Paxton wrote on social media, sharing a video of his Fox News announcement.
It’s official. I’m running for U.S. Senate to fight for President Trump’s agenda and take a sledgehammer to the D.C. establishment.
Together, let’s send John Cornyn packing: https://t.co/rQl0P2UnWU pic.twitter.com/1KIajC0JhN
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) April 8, 2025
From the Texas Tribune:
Paxton’s candidacy poses the most serious threat to Cornyn’s political career in decades. It would mark a watershed moment in the Texas GOP’s factional struggle if Paxton — not long removed from an array of career-threatening legal battles and impeachment by his own party — managed to topple Cornyn, a mainstay of Texas politics who had an early hand in the state’s Republican takeover and reached the upper rungs of Senate GOP leadership.
The four-term senator has easily fended off competition from the right even as his party has taken a sharp turn in that direction. But now, Cornyn is facing more serious heat over his support for military aid to Ukraine, his public skepticism about Trump’s electability ahead of the 2024 election, and his role leading Senate negotiations on a bill restricting firearm access after the 2022 shooting at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School.
He’s RUNNING! Texas AG @KenPaxtonTX announced on Laura Ingraham that he’s running for U.S. Senate against John Cornyn! It’s time to shake up the RINO establishment with a true MAGA fighter. Let’s go, Paxton—Texas patriots have your back!
👉🏼Donate NOW! https://t.co/xWeJrDJXDe pic.twitter.com/vJKExlEla2
— Kambree (@KamVTV) April 8, 2025
Shots have already been fired. Cornyn’s spokesperson said in a statement, “Ken Paxton is a fraud. He talks tough on crime and then lets crooked progressive Lina Hidalgo off the hook.”
Paxton responded, “Our campaign only responds to serious candidates who aren’t 25 points down in the polls.”
Our campaign only responds to serious candidates who aren’t 25 points down in the polls. https://t.co/V4aTQcAfOA
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) April 8, 2025
BREAKING: @KenPaxtonTX is going to announce his candidacy for the US Senate tonight!
It’s time to send RINO Cornyn PACKING!
Let’s fcking go! pic.twitter.com/idEpAg7o63
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) April 8, 2025
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