Texas AG Ken Paxton Announces Bid for US Senate, Challenging Fellow Republican Sen. John Cornyn

Cornyn’s campaign quickly responded to the announcement of Paxton’s Senate bid.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attends the executive order signing ceremony to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on April 8 that he will run for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 primary to challenge fellow Republican Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who is currently serving his fourth term.

“It’s official. I’m running for U.S. Senate to fight for President Trump’s agenda and take a sledgehammer to the D.C. establishment,” he stated on social media platform X.