Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will face off in a Texas Republican Senate runoff, after neither candidate withdrew by the March 18 deadline. The runoff is scheduled for May 26 and is expected to attract significant spending and national attention.
The contest has drawn interest due to its potential impact on party unity ahead of the general election. President Donald Trump and other party leaders have called for Republicans to avoid an extended intraparty battle, but both candidates have chosen to stay in the race.
Trump previously said he would endorse one of the candidates soon after the March 3 primary, suggesting that the loser should step aside to help unify Republicans. However, nearly two weeks later, no endorsement has been made, leaving both Cornyn and Paxton committed to continuing their campaigns.
Cornyn finished first in the primary with support from Senate leadership allies who see him as a strong general election contender. Paxton has focused his campaign on election law issues important to Republican voters. He said he would consider dropping out only if Senate Republicans eliminated the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration and stricter identification rules.
Cornyn has indicated some openness to changing his position on the filibuster under pressure from within his party. Meanwhile, Paxton continues to argue that Cornyn’s efforts are not enough. The race has become a proxy battle over national Republican priorities and Trump’s influence within the party.
Observers expect further developments as Trump’s eventual endorsement may depend on progress regarding the SAVE America Act.
