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Texas AG Ken Paxton is weighing a possible run for US Senate, according to sources.
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On Monday, Paxton named current Senator John Cornyn as a Republican who needs to be removed for not being conservative enough.
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Cornyn has served in the US Senate since 2002.
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Texas AG Ken Paxton is weighing a possible run for US Senate, according to sources.
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On Monday, Paxton named current Senator John Cornyn as a Republican who needs to be removed for not being conservative enough.
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Cornyn has served in the US Senate since 2002.
According to recent rumors, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is thinking about running for the US Senate.
The Texas Republican Party’s division would be put to the test if someone ran against incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
Ken Paxton gauging interest in Senate run
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. JD Vance was elevated to the Republican Party when former President Donald Trump selected him as his running mate.
According to FOX News, Paxton mentioned a number of Republicans he wants to kick out of the Texas GOP for not being conservative enough while addressing Republican Party members in Denton County on Monday night.
Paxton’s list included Cornyn, who has been a member of the US Senate since 2002.
“The second thing we need to do, and I might play a role in this, is replace John Cornyn in the U.S. Senate.” Paxton uttered those words.
Despite “loving what I’m doing,” Paxton said in an interview with FOX News Digital, “I’m looking potentially at the U.S. Senate.”
FOX News Digital was informed by a source close to Paxton that the attorney general “plans to spend the next few months meeting with voters, donors, and grassroots activists across the state to gauge interest and decide how he can serve Texas best.”
The possibility that President Donald Trump, Paxton’s close friend and supporter, would endorse a primary challenge for Cornyn could be a decisive factor.
The backstory
Since being found not guilty in his 2023 impeachment trial, Paxton has made references to a potential Senate bid.
Ahead of the political trial, Cornyn voiced his disapproval of Paxton, stating that the accusations made against the attorney general disturbed him.
Following his acquittal, Paxton began to target Cornyn.
Paxton has often called Cornyn a “Republican in name only,” or RINO.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that he is “re-energized” following his suspension from office due to impeachment in the first interview since his acquittal. He also made a suggestion that he might run for higher office.
“I’ve seen how guys like John Cornyn have represented the State of Texas and not represented us, I think it’s time somebody needs to step up and run against this guy that will do the job and do it the right way,” Paxton said Tucker Carlson, the former anchor of FOX News.
With a number of high-profile litigation against the Biden administration and corporations like Meta and Google, Paxton has established himself nationally during his tenure as attorney general.
Paxton served in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives before being appointed attorney general.
John Cornyn
Senator John Cornyn of the United States
In 2026, Cornyn has already declared his intention to run.
In Texas, Cornyn has never lost an election.
Before defeating a crowded field to become a US Senator in 2002, he was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990 and went on to win the attorney general’s campaign in 1998.
READ MORE: The new Senate DOGE caucus includes Senator John Cornyn
Cornyn has held the positions of majority and minority whip in the Senate. The Senate Narcotics Caucus is now chaired by him.
He has also been an outspoken advocate for Trump’s Cabinet choices in recent months and has criticized Democrats for postponing confirmations for important posts. “Our first and most urgent task is to confirm President Trump’s nominees for his Cabinet,” he stated earlier this month during a Senate floor speech.
2026 Elections
Next steps:
Texas’s elections in 2026 will be significant.
Texans will be able to vote for the US Senate as well as a number of other offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general.
March will see primary elections, while May will see runoff elections.
The Origin:This article’s information is derived from previous FOX coverage and FOX News Digital.
