2 Trump Allies Locked In Tight Race
A major political battle is unfolding deep in the heart of Texas — and longtime Sen. John Cornyn may be facing the toughest challenge of his career.
A newly released poll shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton holding a slight lead over Cornyn in the heated Republican Senate runoff, signaling growing frustration among conservative voters who want stronger America First leadership in Washington.
The survey from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs found Paxton leading Cornyn 48 percent to 45 percent among likely Republican voters. Another 7 percent remain undecided, meaning the race could still shift dramatically in the final days.
For many conservatives, the showdown has become more than just another Senate race. It is increasingly being viewed as a referendum on the future direction of the Republican Party in Texas.
Paxton has built his campaign around fighting the establishment, defending President Donald Trump, securing the border, and taking on the Biden-era political machine that many Republican voters believe damaged the country for years.
Cornyn, meanwhile, has attempted to position himself as the experienced conservative voice in the race, pointing to his long record in Washington and ties to Senate Republican leadership. But critics on the right argue that voters are growing tired of establishment Republicans who they believe have failed to aggressively push back against Democrats and the media.
One of the biggest unanswered questions in the race remains Trump’s endorsement.
Both Cornyn and Paxton aggressively pursued support from the president, knowing his endorsement could instantly reshape the race. Trump even hinted earlier this year that he might support one candidate while encouraging the other to step aside.
That never happened.
Now both Republicans are locked into a runoff that could become one of the nastiest and most expensive GOP battles in the country.
The latest polling numbers suggest Paxton’s momentum may be growing at the perfect time. After trailing earlier in the primary season, the Texas attorney general now appears to be consolidating support among grassroots conservatives and anti-establishment voters.
The poll also revealed interesting demographic trends.
Among male Republican voters, Paxton led Cornyn by three points. Female voters also leaned toward Paxton, though by a narrower margin. The results suggest Paxton’s support is broadening across multiple segments of the Republican base.
Democrats are watching the race closely and hoping Republican infighting could create an opening in November.
Democratic candidate James Talarico recently posted surprisingly competitive numbers in hypothetical general election matchups against both Republicans in another statewide survey.
Still, many Texas conservatives remain confident that the GOP will ultimately hold the seat, especially in a presidential election environment where border security, inflation, crime, and energy policy are expected to dominate voter concerns.
The bigger question may be what the outcome says about the Republican Party itself.
If Paxton wins, many analysts believe it would send a powerful message that grassroots voters are demanding more aggressive conservative leadership and stronger loyalty to Trump’s America First movement.
If Cornyn survives, establishment Republicans may argue that experience and electability still matter to Texas voters despite the growing populist wave inside the GOP.
Either way, the Texas Senate runoff is shaping up to be one of the most important Republican battles in America — and conservatives across the country are watching closely.
The University of Houston poll surveyed 1,200 respondents between April 28 and May 1 and carried a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percentage points.
