Texas GOP Senate Runoff: Cornyn and Paxton Battle to the Finish on Airwaves

The Texas GOP Senate runoff has reached its final stretch, with Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton trading blows almost entirely through television ads rather than public events. As voters prepared to head to the polls on Tuesday, both campaigns relied on a flood of advertising, endorsements, and political maneuvering to make their last impressions on the Republican electorate.

A Quiet Final Day on the Campaign Trail

San Antonio became the backdrop for one of the strangest closing days in recent Texas political memory. Neither Cornyn nor Paxton scheduled any public campaign events on Monday, leaving voters to encounter the candidates almost exclusively through screens.

Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term in the Senate, hosted his annual non-campaign event honoring Texas high school graduates heading to the nation’s military service academies. His last official campaign stop took place in Corpus Christi the previous Friday. Paxton, on the other hand, held his final rallies on Thursday in Austin and San Antonio, choosing to allow his campaign team and a supporting super PAC to deliver the closing message.

Trump’s Endorsement Reshapes the Race

The race took a sharp turn on May 19 when President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Paxton. The announcement came during the second day of early voting and included a strong rebuke of Cornyn, with whom Trump has had a strained public relationship.

Over the weekend, Trump reaffirmed his support, posting on social media that Paxton has remained loyal while accusing Cornyn of being disloyal. This was one of his strongest attacks on the senator to date and mirrored similar criticism Trump aimed at Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy before his defeat in the May 15 Republican primary.

Despite the harsh words, Cornyn pushed back by emphasizing his alignment with Trump in the Senate. He pointed out that nearly all of his votes have supported the president’s agenda and reminded voters that Trump once publicly called him a good man and a friend. He also acknowledged that while the president is free to make his own endorsements, Texans tend to think independently and make their own choices.

Trump’s Influence Continues to Shape GOP Primaries

The Texas GOP Senate runoff is the latest example of Trump’s growing influence over Republican primary battles. In recent weeks, voters in both Indiana and Kentucky have chosen Trump-backed challengers over incumbent Republicans who had distanced themselves from the president or opposed parts of his policy agenda.

This pattern adds significant weight to Trump’s endorsement of Paxton and places further pressure on Cornyn to convince Republican voters that loyalty to Trump is not the only measure of a candidate’s value.

A Massive Air War on Texas Airwaves

While the public events have been minimal, the advertising war has been anything but quiet. Combined ad spending in the race has surpassed 109 million dollars, with Cornyn’s side responsible for the larger share. Political analysts have described the runoff as a relentless battle fought almost entirely through media.

Wayne Hamilton, a former executive director of the Texas Republican Party, called the contest a slugfest between campaigns and outside groups.

For most of the past year, pro-Cornyn spending outpaced pro-Paxton spending by nearly nine to one. However, that gap has shrunk significantly as the runoff approached. In the final week, Cornyn’s allies were spending less than twice as much as Paxton’s main super PAC.

Cornyn’s Strategy: Attacking Paxton’s Baggage

Cornyn’s campaign continued to focus on personal and ethical questions that have followed Paxton throughout his political career. The senator argued that these issues would hurt the Republican nominee in the general election and could even cost the GOP the Senate seat.

He warned that James Talarico, the Texas Democratic nominee, would aggressively highlight Paxton’s vulnerabilities if the attorney general advances to the general election. Cornyn’s team also reaired ads emphasizing his consistent record of voting in favor of Trump’s priorities in the Senate.

Some of Cornyn’s main arguments include:

• Paxton may be unable to withstand Democratic attacks in a general election
• Cornyn has a long record of supporting Trump’s legislative agenda
• Republican voters need to consider the risk of losing the seat to a Democrat

Paxton’s Strategy: Riding the Trump Endorsement Wave

Paxton’s campaign shifted gears mid-week, focusing all its messaging on Trump’s endorsement. By the weekend, the Lone Star Liberty Fund, Paxton’s primary super PAC, also released a new ad challenging Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominee.

The strategy reflects Paxton’s belief that Trump’s support carries enough weight to overcome the controversies surrounding his political and personal record. His team appears confident that loyalty to the president will resonate with Texas Republican voters more than concerns about electability.

A Race That Will Set the Tone for Texas Politics

The Texas GOP Senate runoff is more than just a contest between two political figures. It is shaping up to be a defining moment for the future of the Republican Party in the state. The outcome will reveal whether Trump’s endorsement remains the most powerful force in GOP primaries or whether traditional incumbents can still win on the strength of their experience and record.

As Tuesday’s voting approaches, all eyes are on Texas to see which strategy succeeds in one of the most aggressive and expensive Senate primaries the state has ever seen.