US EditionCornyn and Paxton Remain on Texas GOP Runoff Ballot After Withdrawal Deadline
Neither candidate withdrew by the deadline, leaving Sen. John Cornyn and AG Ken Paxton to face off in the Texas GOP runoff May 26 with early voting from May 18.
- With a 5 p.m. deadline now passed, Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remain in the GOP Senate contest after no endorsement from President Donald Trump.
- Cornyn led Paxton by 1% in the March 3 primary, producing an uncertain result that forces a runoff with early voting starting May 18 and a May 26 election.
- Cornyn's campaign told CBS Austin it is confident, saying 'Senator Cornyn overperformed all expectations by winning the primary after Ken Paxton spent two weeks predicting he would win without a runoff.'
- Josh Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project, said the race is at a pause as both candidates await Trump's decision, and experts describe the runoff as unpredictable.
- At the March 3, 2026 primary, sharp exchanges highlighted the contentious race, with lawmakers debating the bill amid campaign tensions, as Trump’s endorsement remains undecided.
91 Articles
91 Articles
Key deadline in Texas Senate race passes without Trump endorsement
Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) will officially both be on the ballot for the May 26 GOP runoff, as Tuesday’s deadline came and went without an endorsement in the race by President Trump. Trump, who said days after the two advanced to a runoff that he would endorse a…
The deadline for Republican candidates to withdraw their name from the primary election ballot passed silently at 5 p.m. (Center time) yesterday Tuesday without any movement by Senator John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton, leading the Republican primaries for the Texas Senate to another period of costly intra-party warfare.
Key Deadline Slides by in Texas Senate Race
President Trump's much-teased pick in a high-stakes Texas Senate showdown didn't land in time to matter on the ballot. The president had pledged to endorse either Sen. John Cornyn or state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican runoff and said he wanted the loser to quit the race . But...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
