President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of longtime Texas Senator John Cornyn while endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate runoff. Trump described Cornyn as “disloyal” and urged Republican voters to back Paxton in the closely watched race.
The Texas Republican runoff has become one of the most closely followed contests of the 2026 election cycle, with political observers viewing it as another test of Trump’s influence within the Republican Party. The winner of the primary will move on to face Democratic state Representative James Talarico in the November general election.
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Democrats are aiming to make the Texas Senate race competitive in a state that has favored Republicans in statewide elections for decades. Meanwhile, Republicans remain focused on maintaining their narrow majority in the U.S. Senate, making the Texas contest a key national battleground.
The runoff ballot also includes several other high-profile races across Texas, including contests for attorney general and multiple congressional seats. One Democratic congressional runoff has attracted controversy following social media comments that sparked criticism from political opponents and advocacy groups.
Republican organizations, including the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, have highlighted past remarks from Talarico on issues involving religion, gender identity, and criminal justice. GOP strategists argue those statements could become a major issue during the general election campaign.
Talarico, who has a background in ministry studies, has previously spoken publicly about faith and social policy issues, often drawing attention from both supporters and critics. As the campaign continues, both parties are expected to increase their focus on cultural and economic issues that could shape voter turnout in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.
Benjamin Harris is a RapidReports front page contributor and editor,proud father of four.
