Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) are competing in a GOP primary runoff election for a U.S. Senate seat.
The outcome will determine which Republican candidate advances to the general election in one of the largest states in the union. This runoff follows a close primary in March that failed to produce a clear winner, leaving the race too tight to decide without a second vote.
The runoff election is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, 2026 [1].
Cornyn is seeking to maintain his position in the U.S. Senate, while Paxton is attempting to move from his role as the state's top legal officer to the federal legislature. The contest highlights a critical juncture for the Texas Republican party as it decides between the established incumbency of Cornyn and the challenge presented by Paxton.
Both candidates have focused their efforts on securing the nomination after the March primary results necessitated this additional round of voting. The race remains a central focus for GOP strategists across the state as the May 28 [1] date approaches.
“The runoff election is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, 2026.”
This runoff represents a high-stakes internal struggle within the Texas Republican party. The result will signal whether the GOP base prefers the stability of a long-term incumbent or the platform of the state's Attorney General, potentially shifting the ideological direction of the state's representation in the U.S. Senate.
