Washington, May 27 (H.S.): Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday defeated incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in the U.S. Senate primary election in Texas. Paxton, widely regarded as a staunch ally and close associate of President Donald Trump, is now the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Texas. Trump has been systematically sidelining his opponents within the Republican Party.

According to reports by CBS News and CNN, Paxton’s victory came largely due to Trump’s backing. Although Cornyn had maintained a narrow lead during the initial stages of the race in March, Trump’s open endorsement of Paxton dealt a major blow to the incumbent senator. After securing the Republican nomination, Paxton will now face Democratic candidate James Talarico in the general election.

Paxton is considered one of the most outspoken critics of Democratic federal administrations, particularly the Joe Biden administration. On several occasions, he has challenged federal government decisions in court. He strongly supports strict immigration policies, border security measures, and traditional Republican principles. During the primary campaign, Paxton received strong backing from Trump as well as grassroots Republican voters.

Paxton has also faced impeachment proceedings. He has been accused of abusing his office, engaging in financial misconduct, and using aliases and multiple cell phones to conceal a personal relationship. His Democratic opponent, James Talarico, has previously criticized him by calling him “the most corrupt politician in America.” Paxton continues to face numerous political, civil, and securities-related investigations. Although he encountered considerable opposition both within and outside the party during the early stages of the campaign, Trump’s unwavering support and Paxton’s strong influence among right-wing voters have helped him remain one of the most powerful political figures in Texas.

In the election scheduled for November this year, Paxton will contest against Democratic candidate James Talarico. No Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas since 1994. Speaking at his victory celebration, Paxton thanked Trump for his support and said, “When everyone in Washington told him to abandon me and the people of Texas, he refused to listen. President Trump is our leader. His endorsement is the most powerful force in politics for me.”

Meanwhile, after losing to Paxton, Cornyn told his supporters on Tuesday night that he would support Republican candidates in the general election. Cornyn has been elected senator four times. In the three-way primary contest held in March against Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt, Cornyn had initially secured the highest number of votes.

Trump became actively involved in the race last week when he publicly endorsed Paxton. Writing on Truth Social, Trump stated that the Texas Attorney General had always remained loyal to him and described him as a “true Republican.” Trump added that while Cornyn was “a good person,” he had failed to stand by him during difficult times. The primary contest is being described as one of the most expensive in American history, with millions of dollars reportedly spent in efforts to defeat Paxton.

This marks yet another victory for a Trump-backed candidate challenging an incumbent Republican lawmaker. Paxton was first elected Texas Attorney General in 2014. Soon after assuming office, he strongly opposed the Obama administration and later emerged as one of Trump’s closest political allies. His influence within the Republican Party steadily increased thereafter. In 2020, Paxton also filed lawsuits challenging former President Joe Biden’s election victory in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Wisconsin. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar