Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton don defeat Senator John Cornyn for Republican run-off primary on Tuesday night. Di outcome wey many people don expect for weeks, still be big shock for di incumbent wey serve for Congress for 23 years, including 12 years as high-ranking member of Senate Republican leadership.
Di contest wey dey very expensive don set record as most expensive Senate primary campaign for US history. Na so e go set up di general election for November between Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, wey be state legislator.
Di result of dat race go help determine whether Democrats fit win back control of US Senate for di final two years of Donald Trump presidency. Many Democrats see Paxton as di weaker candidate and dey happy for chance to flip Senate seat for state wey long time dey elect Republicans.
Paxton, wey be 62 years old, don already start to focus on November general election, airing TV adverts for di past week wey dey attack Talarico as left-wing extremist. Polls show tight race for state wey never elect Democrat to Senate since 1988.
E don be 46 years since at least two incumbent senators lose to voters for their own party for same election cycle. Just 10 days ago, Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy no even reach party run-off primary, finish behind two Republican challengers.
Both Cornyn and Cassidy face candidates wey President Donald Trump endorse. But dat be where similarities end. Unlike Cassidy wey vote to convict Trump for 2021 Senate impeachment trial, Cornyn be party loyalist wey tout ties to president. Even though e slow to endorse Trump 2024 re-election, e faithfully toe Republican line for Senate.
Di day after dat vote, e look like Trump fit endorse Cornyn, wey be popular figure among Senate Republicans due to prolific fundraising and leadership. But endorsement never come. Paxton, wey get personal and political scandals, be favourite among Trump populist base for Texas.
E campaign against 74-year-old Cornyn as too old, too timid, too aligned with political establishment, and too out-of-touch with Texas conservatives. Last week, after e look like Paxton go defeat Cornyn despite being outspent 9-to-1, Trump endorse di challenger.
Trump accuse Cornyn of being “very disloyal” to am for social media, arguing e no fight hard enough to save Trump voting reform legislation. For post on Truth Social after Paxton win, Trump congratulate Paxton and say e go become “fantastic, common sense senator.” E also congratulate Cornyn for running strong race and having great career, adding “John will remain my friend for a long time to come.”
Paxton victory fit show strength of Trump endorsement. Trump don see many Republicans wey e endorse beat critics for primaries, including Cassidy for Louisiana and Thomas Massie for Kentucky. But dis time, timing suggest e be case of Trump following im base, wey for Texas still dey hungry for firebrand populist conservatives and wary of longtime Washington politicians.
If Cassidy defeat show Trump still fit sway Republican voters, Texas matchup hint say di impulses wey dey motivate Trump base fit sometimes be larger dan and distinct from am.
While Republican Senate runoff be most closely watched contest for Texas on Tuesday, several other notable contests dey on ballot. For race for Republican nomination to replace Paxton as attorney general, Congressman Chip Roy, small-government conservative wey sometimes draw Trump ire for voting against party for House, be defeated by state Senator Mayes Middleton. Unlike Senate primary, Trump no offer endorsement, though e call for Roy to be challenged for congressional seat for 2023.
Trump endorsement power dey on display farther down Republican side of ballot. For solidly conservative 9th District, Trump-backed Army veteran Alex Mealer defeat state Representative Briscoe Cain, wey Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott endorse. And for 35th, Trump Carlos De La Cruz prevail over Abbott John Lujan.
For runoff for Democratic nomination for 35th House district, wey stretch southeast from outskirts of San Antonio, sheriff deputy Johnny Garcia defeat sex-therapist Maureen Galindo. With Garcia victory, Democrats avoid nominating divisive candidate for congressional district wey tilt towards Republicans but fit be winnable for party. Galindo, little-known candidate, become source of national controversy for suggesting say American Zionists should be held for immigration detention camps.
Several other Democratic runoff contests pit current and former members of Congress against each other, reflection of scramble create after Republican-controlled state legislature redrew congressional lines last year to net more House seats for party. For Houston-centred 18th District, 38-year-old one-term Congressman Christian Menefee defeat 78-year-old Al Green, wey serve for House since 2005. Green build reputation as liberal firebrand, wey dem remove from Trump past two congressional addresses for protesting and regularly introduce articles of impeachment against Republican presidents. Fairshake, cryptocurrency-backed group, spend approximately $6m to oust longtime congressman wey be critic of industry.
For 33rd District near Dallas, former Congressman Colin Allred, Democratic nominee for Senate for 2024, defeat current Congresswoman Julie Johnson. E be measure of revenge for Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, wey Talarico defeat for Democratic Senate nomination for March. She back Allred, while Johnson be Talarico choice.
Democrats fit dey encouraged by Paxton victory, sensing say im past scandals make am more vulnerable opponent dan deep-pocketed Cornyn. But given say Texas don long time dey considered reliably Republican territory, dem go need to quickly pull together if Talarico hope to win for November.
