Cornyn and Paxton Engage in Negative Ad War as Texas Senate Runoff Nears

The Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate in Texas has intensified into a bitter contest between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, characterized by heavily negative advertising. Despite Cornyn and his allies significantly outspending Paxton’s campaign by a ratio of more than four to one, polling indicates a tightly contested race ahead of the May 26 election. Cornyn’s camp has focused on attacking Paxton’s character, citing allegations of corruption and misconduct, while Paxton portrays Cornyn as an out-of-touch establishment figure aligned with Democrats. Although the financial disparity remains substantial, it has narrowed since the initial primary round. Political analysts suggest that ad spending may have limited impact in this runoff, as the electorate is largely decided and highly motivated. The prolonged internal conflict within the GOP has drawn attention from national leaders, including former President Donald Trump, who has yet to endorse a candidate. This infighting has created opportunities for Democrats, who aim to capitalize on Republican division and potentially win the statewide seat in the general election.