Texas voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide a Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff between longtime incumbent Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a costly and prolonged campaign that has drawn President Donald Trump into the fray.
Trump’s backing of Paxton, whom he described as ‘a true MAGA Warrior,’ arrived in the final stretch of the contest and represents another attempt by the president to target Republican officials he considers inadequately supportive.
The Republican victor will face off against Democratic state Representative James Talarico in the November general election.
The March 3 primary results showed no distinct regional patterns. Close vote tallies in Houston, Dallas and neighboring communities highlight how the competition crosses through, rather than cleanly dividing, Texas’ metropolitan and suburban territories.
Cornyn — who Paxton criticized as overly connected to Washington Republicans and insufficiently devoted to Trump — captured victories in the state’s most populous counties, including metropolitan areas around Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Houston. However, Paxton stayed within striking distance, losing by approximately 1,900 votes in Harris County, which includes Houston, and 4,100 votes in Bexar County, which contains San Antonio. Tuesday’s runoff may hinge on which candidate establishes stronger regional support, especially around Houston, where Representative Wesley Hunt, who placed third, exceeded his statewide performance.
Dallas-area contractor Raymond Schramm stated Tuesday that healthcare concerns him, particularly Republican-led reductions in Affordable Care Act subsidies, and he questions how the conflict with Iran has been handled.
While he supported President Donald Trump, he believes the Senate requires someone who will “have a little bit of a difference.” He favors Talarico for his apparent kindness.
“I like him. He’s a nice guy. He speaks well,” he said. “I don’t believe in the party system.”
“My situation is a little different than Massie’s or Cassidy’s,” said Cornyn, referring to two other Republican incumbents who criticized Trump more openly and recently lost their primaries amid pressure from the president and his endorsed candidates.
Regarding his circumstances, Cornyn explained on Fox News Radio’s The Brian Kilmeade Show that Trump is “frustrated I think with the Senate as a whole.”
There are “grifters,” the senator added, who are “claiming I am opposed to the president’s agenda and I think that’s caused some confusion with the president himself, but I’ve been supportive.”
Legal assistant Calise Perry describes herself as “100%” Republican and cast her ballot Tuesday for challenger Ken Paxton over incumbent Cornyn in Texas’ GOP runoff.
The 65-year-old Garland resident said Paxton, the Texas attorney general, fights hard, “and that’s what we need right now.” The runoff occurred one week after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton.
“Cornyn’s been in way too long, and it’s time for him to retire,” she said. “He’s been in office a long time and really hasn’t done much, as far as I can see.”
