Conservative Texas AG Paxton announces Senate primary challenge to Cornyn | Eastern North Carolina Now

Texas' hard-charging solidly conservative state Attorney General Ken Paxton has formally announced his long expected primary challenge to RINO incumbent US Senator John Cornyn.  Cornyn, a longtime close ally of Mitch McConnell has disappointed Texas Republicans on a variety of issues ranging from illegal immigration to gun rights to federal spending.  Several years ago when Cornyn attended the state GOP convention shortly after one of his unpopular votes in the Senate, he was loudly booed by the delegates.

Even before his formal announcement, polls were showing a wide lead for Paxton over Cornyn among Republican voters.  There is some speculation that Cornyn may choose to avoid the humiliation of a likely defeat and just retire.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/3374582/ken-paxton-launches-campaign-senate-unseat-john-cornyn/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/texas-ag-ken-paxton-announces-senate-run-against/

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/04/09/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-to-primary-challenge-senator-john-cornyn/

Cornyn is the second major RINO incumbent in the US Senate to draw a top tier conservative primary challenger for 2026.  Louisiana's uber-RINO incumbent US Senator Bill Cassidy is being challenged by Louisiana State Treasurer and former US Congressman John Fleming, one of the original founders of the House Freedom Caucus.  A recent change in the Louisiana primary system heavily favors Fleming by eliminating the "jungle primary" and replacing it will normal party primaries.

Hopefully, North Carolina will also join the ranks of these states with a top tier primary challenger to RINO incumbent Thom Tillis.