{"id":3654,"date":"2026-05-27T15:40:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T15:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/27\/republicans-race-to-back-ken-paxton-as-runoff-sets-up-closely-watched-us-senate-battle-in-texas\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T15:40:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T15:40:12","slug":"republicans-race-to-back-ken-paxton-as-runoff-sets-up-closely-watched-us-senate-battle-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3654","title":{"rendered":"Republicans race to back Ken Paxton as runoff sets up closely watched US Senate battle in Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"ecc02735-4023-4c0d-99a6-1e528ca639fd\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a man in a suit waves\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/58ab2356963bae8339e96fc9b64c9f5ada67cbfe\/0_0_2711_1808\/master\/2711.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.1143489487274\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Ken Paxton waves as he takes the stage during a primary runoff election night event after winning the Republican party&#8217;s nomination for the US Senate  in Plano, Texas, on Tuesday.<\/span> Photograph: Tony Gutierrez\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"ecc02735-4023-4c0d-99a6-1e528ca639fd\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Ken Paxton waves as he takes the stage during a primary runoff election night event after winning the Republican party&#8217;s nomination for the US Senate  in Plano, Texas, on Tuesday.<\/span> Photograph: Tony Gutierrez\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Republicans race to back Ken Paxton as runoff sets up closely watched US Senate battle in Texas <\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Donald Trump moves quickly to unite Republicans behind the Texas attorney general as Democrats eye rare opening<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/may\/26\/donald-trump-medical-walter-reed-republicans-texas-runoff-iran-latest-news-updates\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">US politics live \u2013 latest updates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/feb\/17\/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Republican leaders rushed to throw their weight behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/ken-paxton\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Ken Paxton<\/a> following his big primary victory in Texas over the four-term US senator, John Cornyn, amid anxiety within the party over his prospects in November\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hours after the race was called, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> \u2013 who backed Paxton, despite intense concern among establishment Republicans \u2013 took to Truth Social to attack his Democratic rival in the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">James Talarico \u201cmay be the worst <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/texas\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Texas<\/a> candidate I have ever seen\u201d, said the US president, claiming the Austin state representative and Democratic nominee for Texas senator was weak on crime and an advocate for open borders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Reaching for a favored Republican attack line against Talarico, Trump claimed he was a vegan who \u201cdislikes meat, not exactly a good way to be if you\u2019re wanting to win an Election in Texas\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Democrat has denied being vegan. \u201cI\u2019ve been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton\u2019s first indictment,\u201d he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/meidastouch\/videos\/talarico-im-an-eighth-generation-texan-ive-been-eating-barbecue-since-before-ken\/1905652936812415\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told a podcast<\/a> earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">While Texas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988, Republican operatives have privately worried that Paxton\u2019s long trail of legal troubles would make him a riskier standard-bearer than the incumbent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Of the outgoing Cornyn, a veteran US senator who enjoyed the support of many of his Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill, Trump was more measured. \u201cJohn will remain my friend for a long time to come,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Paxton\u2019s victory sets up one of the most closely watched US Senate races of the 2026 cycle, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Democrats<\/a> push to flip the seat for the first time in decades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cA vote for Ken Paxton in November is a vote for a safer, stronger, and more prosperous America,\u201d the Senate majority whip, John Barrasso, wrote on social media, calling Talarico \u201ca far-left extremist\u201d who was \u201ctoo radical\u201d for Texas. Bernie Moreno, a senator of Ohio, the likely incoming chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called Talarico a \u201cfar-left freak\u201d and added: \u201cThe voters have spoken, now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/republicans\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Republicans<\/a> must unite and win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Ted Cruz, who had not previously endorsed in the race, put out a statement. \u201cKen is a fearless conservative who spent years taking on Texas\u2019s toughest battles as Attorney General,\u201d he said. Tim Sheehy, a senator of Montana, called Talarico a \u201ccommie\u201d, while the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, predicted Paxton would \u201cdestroy Talarico\u201d and win the contest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On the trail, Republican surrogates have zeroed in on a 2023 interview in which Talarico was asked what he loved beyond family and friends. \u201cI love the trans children who showed up yesterday at the state capitol to advocate for their humanity,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Brandon Gill, a representative, told a recent rally crowd: \u201cWhat kind of grown man daydreams about trans kids?\u201d Sarah Gonzales, a representative, told the same crowd to \u201ccheck his hard drive\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Talarico is running in part on a contrast of personal character against Paxton, <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Impeachment_of_Ken_Paxton,_2023\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">who was impeached<\/a> by the Republican-controlled Texas house in 2023 \u2013 on allegations that he abused his office to help a political donor who employed a woman with whom Paxton had acknowledged having an extramarital affair \u2013 before being acquitted by the state senate.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The US Department of Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ap.org\/news-highlights\/spotlights\/2025\/justice-department-declined-to-prosecute-texas-ag-paxton-in-final-weeks-of-bidens-term-ap-sources\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">reportedly declined<\/a> to prosecute Paxton in the final weeks of the Biden administration, despite federal prosecutors in Texas having believed there was sufficient evidence for an indictment. He also separately paid nearly $300,000 in restitution to resolve long-running securities fraud charges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On social media, Talarico thanked Cornyn for his years of public service and sent a message to his supporters: \u201cYou have a place in our campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Democrats did not hide their preference for this outcome. The Texas Democratic party chair, Kendall Scudder, said Paxton \u201chas spent decades in office abusing his power to serve special interests and enrich himself at Texans\u2019 expense\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, and Kirsten Gillibrand, a senator of New York, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dscc.org\/article\/dscc-statement-on-texas-senate-race-2\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">put out a joint statement<\/a> saying Paxton\u2019s win put their party \u201cone step closer to winning a Senate majority\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWhile Republicans are facing their nightmare scenario, tonight Democrats are one step closer to winning a Senate majority, and in November, Texas will send James Talarico to the Senate,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cKen Paxton is so corrupt that even his own party tried to remove him from office, and during his tenure as Attorney General, criminals have walked free while Paxton and his wealthy donors have profited at the expense of Texas families.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/ken-paxton\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Ken Paxton<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/texas\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Texas<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/republicans\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Republicans<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/democrats\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-midterm-elections-2026\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US midterm elections 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Republicans%20race%20to%20back%20Ken%20Paxton%20as%20runoff%20sets%20up%20closely%20watched%20US%20Senate%20battle%20in%20Texas%20&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/27\/republicans-back-ken-paxton-texas-senate?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F27%2Frepublicans-back-ken-paxton-texas-senate&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/27\/republicans-back-ken-paxton-texas-senate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ken Paxton waves as he takes the stage during a primary runoff election night event after winning the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3654"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3654\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}