Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is considering a run for US Senate, according to new reports.
A run against current Senator John Cornyn would be a test of the split in the Texas Republican Party.
Ken Paxton gauging interest in Senate run
Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, during the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Former President Donald Trump tapped JD Vance as his running mate, elevating to the Republ
While speaking to Republican Party members in Denton County on Monday night, Paxton listed several Republicans he wants to remove from the Texas GOP for not being conservative enough, according to FOX News.
Cornyn, who has served in the US Senate since 2002, made Paxton’s list.
“The second thing we need to do, and I might play a role in this, is replace John Cornyn in the U.S. Senate.” Paxton said.
In an interview with FOX News Digital, Paxton says despite “loving what I’m doing … I’m looking potentially at the U.S. Senate.”
A source close to Paxton told FOX News Digital that the attorney general “plans to spend the next few months meeting with voters, donors and grassroots activists across the state to gauge interest and decide how he can serve Texas best.”
A deciding factor for Paxton could be if his close ally and friend, President Donald Trump, would throw his support behind a primary challenge for Cornyn.
The backstory:
Paxton has hinted at a possible Senate run since he was acquitted in his 2023 impeachment trial.
Cornyn spoke out against Paxton ahead of the political trial, saying he was troubled by the allegations against the attorney general.
After his acquittal, Paxton turned his sights against Cornyn.
Paxton has consistently referred to Cornyn as a RINO, or a “Republican in name only.”
Ken Paxton sits down with Tucker Carlson after acquittal
In the first interview since his acquittal, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he is “re-energized” after his impeachment-based suspension from office. He also hinted at a potential run for higher office.
“I’ve seen how guys like John Cornyn have represented the State of Texas and not represented us, I think it’s time somebody needs to step up and run against this guy that will do the job and do it the right way,” Paxton told former FOX News host Tucker Carlson.
During his time as attorney general, Paxton has made a name for himself nationally, with several high-profile lawsuits against the Biden administration, and companies like Meta and Google.
Prior to becoming attorney general, Paxton was a member of the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate.
John Cornyn
Cornyn has already announced his intention to run in 2026.
Cornyn has not lost an election in Texas.
He was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990, won an attorney general race in 1998 and then defeated a crowded field to become US Senator in 2002.
READ MORE: Senator John Cornyn joins new Senate DOGE caucus
While in the Senate, Cornyn has served as both the majority and minority whip. He is currently the chair of the Senate Narcotics Caucus.
In recent months, he has also been a vocal supporter of Trump’s Cabinet picks and has slammed Democrats for delaying confirmations for key positions. In a speech on the Senate floor earlier this month, he said, “Our first and most urgent task is to confirm President Trump’s nominees for his Cabinet.”
2026 Elections
What’s next:
The 2026 elections will be important in Texas.
In addition to voting for US Senate, Texans will have an opportunity to vote for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, among several other positions.
Primary elections will be held in March with runoff elections in May.
The Source: Information in this article comes from FOX News Digital and past FOX coverage.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is reportedly considering a run for the US Senate against incumbent Senator John Cornyn. According to sources close to Paxton, he is weighing his options and has not made a final decision yet.
Paxton, who has served as Texas Attorney General since 2015, is known for his conservative views and strong support for President Trump. He has been a vocal critic of Cornyn’s leadership in the Senate, particularly on issues such as immigration and border security.
If Paxton decides to run against Cornyn, it could set up a contentious primary battle within the Republican Party. Both candidates have strong support among conservative voters in Texas, and the race would likely be closely watched by political observers nationwide.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Tags:
Ken Paxton, US Senate run, John Cornyn, Texas politics, Texas Senate race, Ken Paxton for Senate, John Cornyn challenger, Republican Senate race, Texas Attorney General, GOP Senate primary, Texas Senate election
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