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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has emerged as the frontrunner in the 2026 Republican Senate primary, leading incumbent Senator John Cornyn by a significant margin.
An internal poll commissioned by the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a GOP-aligned super PAC, indicates Paxton holds a 16-point advantage over Cornyn, with 56% support compared to Cornyn’s 40%.
The poll also explored a potential three-way race including Rep. Wesley Hunt, revealing Paxton at 44%, Cornyn at 34%, and Hunt at 19%. These figures suggest that Paxton’s appeal among Republican primary voters is substantial, even when additional candidates are considered.
Paxton’s campaign is bolstered by endorsements from prominent conservative figures such as Charlie Kirk, Steve Bannon, and Matt Gaetz, who view him as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump. Despite Paxton’s past legal challenges, including a 2023 impeachment by the Texas House from which he was later acquitted, his support among the GOP base remains strong.
Cornyn’s team remains confident, but current polling data paints a challenging path to securing the nomination against a well-supported opponent like Paxton. The outcome of this primary could have major implications for the general election. While Paxton leads in the primary, some Republicans express concern about his viability in a statewide race, especially against potential Democratic challengers like former Rep. Colin Allred, who has previously demonstrated strong electoral performance.
🚨 JUST IN: Attorney General Ken Paxton leads Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Texas U.S. Senate primary – SLF poll via Punchbowl
🔴 Paxton: 56% (+16)
🟠Cornyn: 40% pic.twitter.com/2TkTLc3AeS— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 12, 2025
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