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Who is John Cornyn’s main opponent in the 2026 Republican primary?

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In the 2026 Republican primary, John Cornyn’s main opponent was the MAGA-inspired attorney general of Texas, Ken Paxton. Cornyn was soundly beaten by Paxton in the May 2026 runoff, in part because U.S. Pres. Donald Trump endorsed Paxton, dealing a blow to Cornyn’s re-election bid. Cornyn will continue to serve in the Senate until the end of his term but his seat in 2027 will be held by either Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico, when the U.S. midterm elections are held on November 3, 2026.