Ken Paxton wins GOP runoff for US Senate, ousting John Cornyn, AP projects

PLANO, Texas (KTRK) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, defeating four-term Sen. John Cornyn, the Associated Press projects.

Paxton was endorsed by President Donald Trump last week. His victory in Tuesday's runoff makes Cornyn the first Republican senator from Texas to lose the party's nomination for reelection.

"We went up against $150 million and all the attacks in the world, and we proved that Texas is not for sale," Paxton said to supporters after his projected win on Tuesday evening.

"We just sent a Texas-sized message to Washington," he continued. "Change was on the ballot, and change won."

Trump endorsed Paxton as part of his effort to dislodge GOP officeholders he views as less than devout in their support of him. Cornyn said in 2023, as Trump was running to return to the White House, that his time "has passed him by."

Cornyn led Paxton in the March 3 primary but did not receive a majority of the vote, forcing Tuesday's runoff.

"We've come up short in this primary runoff," Cornyn said to his supporters after his projected defeat.

Cornyn's campaign and allied groups spent roughly $109 million on advertising for the primary and runoff. He had the backing of Senate GOP leaders who said he would be the stronger general election candidate.

"Over the next 7 months, I intend to continue my work to make this nation a better place for all Texans and all Americans," Cornyn said. "I believe, and my family believes, that public service is an honorable calling. While much about politics is ugly, we choose to serve through the good, bad, and the ugly."

Paxton will run against state Rep. James Talarico in November.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.