Texas AG Paxton Leads Senator Cornyn by 22 Points in GOP Primary Poll

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading incumbent Senator John Cornyn by a significant margin in the upcoming 2026 Republican Senate primary, according to multiple recent polls. Paxton consistently holds about 50% support compared to Cornyn's 28%, with Paxton's lead growing even wider among very conservative GOP primary voters, MAGA voters, and high-propensity primary voters. Cornyn, who has served since 2002 and holds relatively moderate conservative ratings, faces criticism for his collaboration with Democrats on issues like gun safety, which Paxton leverages to widen his advantage. Despite Cornyn's efforts to attribute his lagging poll numbers to name recognition, data show that most voters are familiar with both candidates, and favorability ratings also favor Paxton. Even when voters are informed about a potential Trump endorsement of Cornyn and Paxton's criticisms, Paxton maintains a commanding lead. Cornyn's allies hope the gap will narrow as the campaign progresses, but current polling paints a challenging picture for the long-serving senator.