Coverage dated March 1, 2026 to March 3, 2026

Ken Paxton, John Cornyn head to runoff in Texas GOP Senate primary

Headline from Newsweek, on the newest of 2 developments

Paxton and Cornyn advance to a runoff in the Texas Republican Senate primary after no candidate cleared 50 percent.

Newsweek's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Paxton, Cornyn Advance to Runoff in Texas Republican Senate Primary

    Headline from The American Conservative ·

  2. Newest

    Ken Paxton, John Cornyn head to runoff in Texas GOP Senate primary

    Headline from Newsweek ·

1 report not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

28 articles, oldest first.

  1. Fox News

    DAVID MARCUS: Ken Paxton devours John Cornyn as Texas GOP craves a fighter in Senate primary showdown (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    GOP voters favor Ken Paxton over John Cornyn in Texas primary race. What I'm seeing on the ground is that Cornyn's traditional approach may not resonate with Trump-era Republicans.

  2. The Columbian

    Texas GOP Sen. Cornyn tries to hold his seat while Democrats Crockett, Talarico face off for Senate (opens The Columbian)

    Published

    The Columbian's feed description

    DALLAS — Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn is trying to hold on for a fifth term in Tuesday's GOP primary, while Democrats will choose whether to send Rep. Jasmine Crockett or state Rep. James Ta

  3. Talking Points Memo

    Bloody Texas Primary Will Stretch into Runoff as John Cornyn Fights for His Political Life (opens Talking Points Memo)

    Published

    Talking Points Memo's feed description

    Cornyn has three more months to extend his Senate career beyond the two decades he’s already served, fighting to represent his longtime constituents who may have already left him behind.

  4. Los Angeles Times

    Republicans brace for an ugly fight in the Texas Senate runoff between Paxton and Cornyn (opens Los Angeles Times)

    Published

    Los Angeles Times's feed description

    Four-term Sen. John Cornyn and his allies spent nearly $70 million to survive the first round of the party’s nomination fight on Tuesday. He was slightly ahead of conservative firebrand Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, with more votes still being counted on Wednesday.

  5. Newsweek

    Ken Paxton, John Cornyn head to runoff in Texas GOP Senate primary (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Paxton and Cornyn advance to a runoff in the Texas Republican Senate primary after no candidate cleared 50 percent.

  6. CNN

    John Cornyn and Ken Paxton will advance to a runoff in Texas’ US Senate Republican primary, CNN projects (opens CNN)

    Published

    CNN's feed description

    Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will advance to a May 26 runoff in the state’s Republican primary for US Senate, CNN’s Decision Desk projects, extending an expensive and divisive clash that has drawn wide national attention.

  7. Delaware Public Media

    Talarico wins Democratic nomination for Texas Senate seat; Republicans set for runoff (opens Delaware Public Media)

    Published

    Delaware Public Media's feed description

    Sen. John Cornyn will face Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a May runoff. The winner will face James Talarico, a seminarian and state lawmaker who's emerged as a rising Democratic star.

  8. The American Conservative

    Paxton, Cornyn Advance to Runoff in Texas Republican Senate Primary (opens The American Conservative)

    Published

    The American Conservative's feed description

    State of the Union: The Texas Senate candidates will battle for three more months for a seat in the general election.

  9. Wyoming Public Media

    Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Texas is headed for a runoff (opens Wyoming Public Media)

    Published

    Wyoming Public Media's feed description

    Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn will face Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a May runoff. Vote counting was still underway in the Democratic primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico.

  10. Roll Call

    Texas GOP Senate primary heads for a May runoff, as Democrats back Talarico (opens Roll Call)

    Published

    Roll Call's feed description

    John Cornyn and Ken Paxton will face off again in May, while Texas Democrats nominate state Rep. James Talarico.

  11. Winchester Star

    Republicans brace for an ugly fight in the Texas Senate runoff between Cornyn and Paxton (opens Winchester Star)

    Published

    Winchester Star's feed description

    Texas Republicans are headed for a brutal Senate runoff that

  12. New York Post

    Heated GOP Texas Senate primary heads to runoff between Cornyn and Paxton (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    The Texas Senate primaries were the most expensive in US history and race isn't over yet.

  13. RedState

    Breaking: GOP Headed for a Runoff in Texas Senate Primary (opens RedState)

    Published

    RedState's feed description

    Republicans John Cornyn and Ken Paxton head to a runoff in the Texas Senate primary after no candidate secured a majority.

  14. ABC 13 Houston

    John Cornyn forced into runoff against Ken Paxton in US Senate Republican race, ABC News projects (opens ABC 13 Houston)

    Published

    ABC 13 Houston's feed description

    In the Texas Republican Senate Primary, ABC News projects incumbent John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will advance to a runoff.

  15. Al Jazeera

    Texas Senate race: Democrat Talarico wins; GOP’s Cornyn, Paxton in run-off (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    Winner of May run-off between Republicans John Cornyn and Ken Paxton to face Democrat James Talarico.

  16. The Daily Caller

    Longtime GOP Senator Lives To Fight Another Day, But Foe Will Have One More Shot To Oust Him (opens The Daily Caller)

    Published

    The Daily Caller's feed description

    The brutal Texas Republican Senate primary will march into a May runoff as all three major candidates failed to win a majority of the vote Tuesday, multiple outlets project. Longtime Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton advanced to a May 26 showdown as Cornyn claimed 42.

  17. WDIO Duluth

    GOP headed to runoff while Democrats are too early to call in pivotal Texas US Senate primaries (opens WDIO Duluth)

    Published

    WDIO Duluth's feed description

    Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will compete in a May runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Cornyn and Paxton were the top finishers in a three-way contest Tuesday with Rep. Wesley Hunt. No candidate hit the 50% vote threshold needed to win outright.

  18. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    Texans Cornyn, Paxton set for GOP runoff in Senate race (opens Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

    Published

    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's feed description

    Longtime Sen. John Cornyn and MAGA favorite Ken Paxton are heading to a May runoff in Texas' Republican Senate primary, setting up what's expected to be a nasty and expensive second round and a renewed push to win the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

  19. Breitbart News

    Cornyn, Paxton Advance to Runoff in Texas Republican Primary (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn overperformed most expectations Tuesday, advancing to a runoff in the Texas Senate Republican primary.

  20. Washington Examiner

    John Cornyn to face Ken Paxton in costly Texas Senate runoff (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    Cornyn demonstrated that he can stay in contention with the help of a large war chest, keeping the margin tight.

  21. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

    Early results show Cornyn, Paxton may be headed to a runoff (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

    Published

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description

    John Cornyn appears headed to a runoff with Ken Paxton as early results come in. Under Texas law, the top two advance if no one hits 50%.

  22. Marshall News Messenger

    Cornyn, Paxton advance to runoff to be Republican nominee for U.S. Senate (opens Marshall News Messenger)

    Published

    Marshall News Messenger's feed description

    Texas Republicans are in for another three months of mudslinging between Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn after the two bitter rivals advanced to a May 26 […]

  23. CBS News

    Texas GOP Senate primary heading to runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and AG Ken Paxton, CBS News projects (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    In the Texas GOP Senate primary, CBS News projects Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will go to a runoff, with neither clearing 50% of the vote.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Ken Paxton, John Cornyn head to runoff in Texas GOP Senate primary | Since Then