Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged Senator John Cornyn for the Republican nomination in April 2025. Cornyn led the March 2026 primary without a majority, and Paxton won the 26 May runoff after President Donald Trump endorsed him. Paxton faces state Representative James Talarico, who won the Democratic primary over Jasmine Crockett, on 3 November 2026.
2023 to 30 October 2026 · 23 dated events · 26 sources
Status in the record · 2 November 2026
As of 2 November 2026 Paxton, the Republican nominee, and Talarico, the Democratic nominee, are on the 3 November ballot after early voting closed on 30 October. On 31 October Talarico campaigned in Houston and Paxton in Fort Worth, the Associated Press reported. No debate between them had been held or scheduled in the reports reviewed, the latest of which to address debates dates to 21 October.
Coverage through30 October 2026Editorial review2 November 2026
Next date 3 November 2026 General election day
Main story: 8 April 2025 to 30 October 2026. The full timeline also includes labelled context or related events.
Paxton's runoff share62.6%Returns when the AP called the race on 26 May, reported by Roll Call
advertising spending by 9 October$247M+AdImpact figure for campaigns and outside groups, reported by AP
Timeline of events
Overview · 2023 to 30 Oct 2026 · click a dot to jump
23 events shown
2023
2023
Background context
Legal step
Texas Senate acquits Paxton at impeachment trial
The Texas House impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton on articles that included bribery allegations tied to a real estate donor, and the Texas Senate acquitted him after a two-week trial in 2023, the Associated Press reported. The Texas Tribune reported that he was acquitted of all 16 articles.
Paxton reached a pretrial agreement under which prosecutors agreed to drop the felony securities fraud charges brought against him in 2015 if he completed 100 hours of community service and 15 hours of legal ethics courses and paid about $271,000 in restitution, The Texas Tribune reported. He did not enter a plea, and his lawyer said the agreement contained no admission of wrongdoing. Paxton called the case a political prosecution.
“There is no admission of any wrongdoing on Ken's part in the agreement.”Dan Cogdell, Paxton's lawyer, The Texas Tribune
Senator John Cornyn, in the Senate since 2002 and a former Texas attorney general and state Supreme Court justice, lost his bid to become Senate majority leader in November 2024 after several years as Mitch McConnell's deputy, the Associated Press reported.
Paxton announced his run for the Republican Senate nomination in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham and in a post on X, the Associated Press reported. Cornyn's campaign called Paxton a fraud and cited his impeachment.
Securities fraud charges against Paxton are dismissed
The three felony securities fraud charges against Paxton in Harris County district court were dismissed after he completed the conditions of the 2024 pretrial agreement, Bloomberg Law and FOX 7 Austin reported. Prosecutor Brian Wice announced the dismissal, and Paxton's lawyer Dan Cogdell posted the signed dismissal motion. The case ended without a trial, plea or conviction.
“Today's resolution was the fair, right, and just outcome for both sides.”Brian Wice, prosecutor, Bloomberg Law
State Representative James Talarico of Austin, a former schoolteacher, launched his Senate campaign at a rally in Round Rock, the Associated Press and The Texas Newsroom reported. Former US Representative Colin Allred and former astronaut Terry Virts were already running for the Democratic nomination.
“There is a deep hunger in this state and in this country for a different kind of politics”James Talarico, The Texas Newsroom (via KUT)
US Representative Wesley Hunt of Houston, an Army veteran and West Point graduate in his second House term, entered the Republican Senate primary against Cornyn and Paxton, Roll Call and The Texas Tribune reported.
“With my candidacy, this race will finally be about what's most important: Texas.”Wesley Hunt, The Texas Tribune
Colin Allred ended his Senate campaign to seek a House seat. Later the same day, US Representative Jasmine Crockett announced her Senate candidacy in Dallas on the final day of qualifying, the Associated Press reported. She joined James Talarico in the Democratic primary.
In the 3 March Republican primary Cornyn finished narrowly ahead of Paxton but short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff, the Associated Press reported. Hunt finished third and conceded. President Donald Trump had not endorsed a candidate before the vote.
“It's judgment day for Ken Paxton”John Cornyn, Associated Press (via PBS NewsHour)
The Associated Press called the Democratic primary for Talarico early on 4 March. Crockett warned that people had been disenfranchised, and her campaign said it planned to sue over voting problems in Dallas, the AP reported.
“We're about to take back Texas.”James Talarico, Associated Press (via Lawrence Journal-World)
Crockett conceded in a written statement on 4 March and called on Democrats to unite behind Talarico, the Associated Press reported. Her campaign had earlier suggested she might sue over voting problems in the primary.
“Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person.”Jasmine Crockett, Associated Press (via The Canadian Press and CFJC Today)
After the primary Trump said he would endorse one of the two runoff candidates and expected the other to drop out, the Associated Press reported. Paxton said he would not leave the race.
With early voting in the runoff already under way, Trump endorsed Paxton over Cornyn, the Associated Press and Houston Public Media reported. Senate Republican leaders continued to back Cornyn, and National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Tim Scott had said the party might not hold Texas without him as nominee.
Advertising totals top $100 million before the runoff
Advertising by Cornyn and his allies was expected to total about $90 million through that week, compared with about $10.5 million for Paxton and his supporting super PAC, AP reported, citing AdImpact. Those totals covered the campaign to date, including about $20 million and $6.1 million respectively since the March primary. Cornyn argued that Paxton would lose the seat in November.
“Ken Paxton would hand it to (Democrats) on a silver platter.”John Cornyn, Associated Press (via PBS NewsHour)
The Associated Press called the Republican runoff for Paxton. Roll Call reported 62.6 percent for Paxton and 37.4 percent for Cornyn when the AP called the race. Houston Public Media reported a similar Paxton share with 193 of 254 counties reporting.
“Texas is not for sale”Ken Paxton, ABC13 Houston (KTRK) with The Associated Press
Cornyn told supporters his campaign had come up short and said he would keep working for Texans for the rest of his term, ABC13 Houston reported. Roll Call reported that he said he would respect the voters' decision and back the Republican ticket in November.
“We've come up short in this primary runoff.”John Cornyn, ABC13 Houston (KTRK) with The Associated Press
In July Talarico challenged Paxton to three televised debates, and Paxton's campaign said he would debate, the Associated Press reported. The campaign later objected to some proposed moderators, and an agreement it suggested was imminent was not announced. In September Talarico invited Paxton to a Fox News debate.
Talarico's absence from the trail draws Paxton campaign criticism
Talarico made no public campaign appearances for nine days in early October, the Associated Press reported. Paxton spokeswoman Madison Cercy responded with a demand for proof of life.
“We have a simple request: proof of life.”Madison Cercy, Paxton campaign spokeswoman, Associated Press (via PBS NewsHour)
After a rally with Paxton in San Antonio, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Talarico should report to a debate stage, the Associated Press reported. Talarico replied on X the next day that he agreed. Paxton did not publicly respond. The AP reported, citing AdImpact, that the campaigns and more than a dozen outside groups had spent over $247 million on advertising.
“President Trump just said Ken Paxton should debate. I agree”James Talarico, Associated Press (via PBS NewsHour)
Talarico resumed campaigning with a rally in San Marcos. The Associated Press reported, citing federal filings, that Elon Musk had given $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, which gave $158 million to Texas PAC, a group backing Paxton, and that Musk gave $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, which supports Paxton. Talarico's campaign had outraised Paxton's, the AP reported.
Talarico proposes a TMZ debate as Paxton objects to CNN
Talarico said in a TMZ interview that the outlet could host a debate and that he had agreed to several, including one on Fox News, FOX 7 Austin and The National Desk reported. FOX 7 Austin reported that Paxton said he did not want a CNN reporter covering a debate. Neither outlet reported a scheduled debate.
“I don't know what all the terms are, but I do know I don't want a CNN reporter covering our debate”Ken Paxton, FOX 7 Austin
Trump rallies for Paxton in Corpus Christi and Lubbock
Trump held rallies for Paxton at the Port of Corpus Christi and in Lubbock, FOX 7 Austin and WOAI reported. Talarico also campaigned in Lubbock that day.
“I need the help of Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate.”Donald Trump, FOX 7 Austin
Coverage through 30 October 2026. Editorial review: 2 November 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Copyright concerns: report an asset. Every event links to its sources. Source type does not establish whether a claim is true.
