Cornyn Outraises Paxton Ahead of Texas Senate GOP Runoff

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:56:00 +0200

Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn holds a substantial financial advantage over Attorney General Ken Paxton as they head into the GOP Senate primary runoff. According to first-quarter 2026 campaign finance reports, Cornyn raised approximately $9 million across his campaign committee and joint fundraising committees, ending the period with nearly $8.2 million in cash on hand. In contrast, Paxton raised about $2.2 million and had $2.6 million available. This gap underscores Cornyn's strong fundraising network, bolstered by Washington insiders and establishment support, including a recent $5,000 donation from former President George W. Bush. The incumbent senator's apparatus spent over $17 million in the quarter, reflecting aggressive campaigning after a competitive March 3 primary that led to the runoff. Paxton's campaign, while resilient among conservative grassroots, struggles to match Cornyn's resources, highlighting tensions within the Texas GOP between establishment figures and Tr