Cornyn Promises to Keep Up Fight
Despite Big Lead for Paxton in Polls
Capitol Inside
May 1, 2025
U.S. Senator John Cornyn shot down speculation about a potential surrender on Thursday when he vowed to forge ahead with a re-election campaign in 2026 despite a commanding early lead that Attorney General Ken Paxton holds based on the results of internal polling.
Cornyn scoffed when pressed by reporters at the U.S. Capitol about the possibility that he would pull the plug on the race in light of a 17-point advantage that Paxton enjoyed in a poll that the Houston Chronicle obtained and published today.
“I am 110 percent committed and certainly would never dream of it, especially if the alternative is the attorney general,” Cornyn said. The 22-year Senate veteran suggested that conjecture on his imminent demise was highly premature. “We’ve got more than enough time and more than enough resources to make up for that and I’m confident of the outcome,” Cornyn added.
Cornyn took issue last night with a post on X from Austin attorney Adam Loewy, who predicted that the senator would announce his retirement later this year to avoid a potential blowout as the epilogue to a distinguished career in public service.
"What are you smoking? Cornyn snapped back.
The polling in question showed Paxton with 50 percent support among GOP voters here compared to 37 percent for Cornyn. The Texas AG has higher approval ratings than Cornyn on top of lower disapproval marks.
Democratic polling has put Paxton up by 20 points over Cornyn - and Democrats are licking chops about the chance to run against the state lawyer versus a longtime incumbent who they think they have no chance to beat. The early list of potential contenders for the Democrats including Beto O'Rourke, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio and State Senator Nathan Johnson of Dallas. Colin Allred, who lost a bid to unseat U.S. Ted Cruz in 2024, has expressed a possible interest in a bid for Cornyn's seat.
Cornyn might have a shot to close the chance if he could score an endorsement for the Republican primary in 2026 from President Donald Trump. The president has indicated that he will stay on the sidelines in the Texas Senate battle for the time being at least.
Trump has served up praise for both of the current major contenders in the GOP sweepstakes for U.S. Senate in Texas. But Trump also has pointed out that U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston could be a candidate for the federal post as well. Trump has endorsed Hunt for Congress in two winning races.
Cornyn had $5.6 million in the campaign bank on the final day of March. But Paxton attention and fame that money can't buy when he impeached by the Texas House in 2023 before his acquittal by the Senate several months later.
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