Trending Now - David Pascoe: 'A System Fueled by Wealth and Coercion

WHO:

John Cornyn: Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator from Texas, first elected in 2002.

Ken Paxton: Texas Attorney General, running against Cornyn in the Republican primary.

Wesley Hunt: U.S. Representative and candidate in the Republican primary.

James Talarico: State Representative and candidate in the Democratic primary.

Jasmine Crockett: U.S. Representative and candidate in the Democratic primary.

President Donald Trump: Has not endorsed any candidate in the Texas Senate race.

Kamala Harris: Former Vice President, endorsed Jasmine Crockett.

Chris Slick: Alleged political operative for South Carolina trial lawyers.

David Pascoe: Solicitor for South Carolina’s first judicial circuit and candidate for attorney general.

WHAT:

Cornyn issued a warning to Paxton, stating, “he’s going to be unelectable.”

Cornyn and allies have spent tens of millions on attack ads against Paxton.

Cornyn accused Paxton of infidelity, claiming he “cheated on his wife.”

Paxton leads in polls for the Republican primary, with 40% support compared to Cornyn's 36% and Hunt's 17%.

The cost of advertising for the Texas Senate primary has exceeded $110 million.

A runoff is expected in May if no candidate receives over 50% of the vote.

Talarico holds a narrow lead over Crockett in the Democratic primary, with 52% to 47%.

Cornyn stated, “If his own family can’t trust him, you can’t trust him either,” referring to Paxton.

Cornyn has been labeled a “RINO” (Republican in name only) by Trump supporters.

Cornyn’s support for a gun-safety bill remains a contentious issue among his opponents.

WHERE:

Texas: The primary elections are taking place statewide.

Houston: Location of Cornyn's warning to Paxton.

The Woodlands: Location where Cornyn spoke to voters.

Port of Corpus Christi: Location of Trump's speech.

Magnolia: City where Paxton spoke to supporters.

Fort Worth: Location of a Paxton campaign event.

WHEN:

Primary elections are scheduled for March 3, 2026.

Cornyn was booed at the Texas Republican convention in 2022.

The gun-safety bill was passed in summer 2022.

The Emerson College Polling survey was conducted on February 26-27, 2026.

WHY:

Cornyn is facing a tough primary challenge due to Paxton's popularity among conservative voters and his own past bipartisan actions.

Democrats see an opportunity to win a Senate seat in Texas, which has not been won by them since 1988, especially if Paxton is the Republican nominee.

Cornyn's support for the gun-safety bill has been a point of contention among Republican voters.

HOW:

Cornyn and his allies are using attack ads to undermine Paxton's candidacy.

Paxton is countering with a statewide TV ad narrated by his daughter.

The primary race is characterized by significant financial investments from candidates and political groups, with a record pace of spending.

In a heated Texas Senate primary, incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn is facing a tough challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton, who currently leads in the polls with 40 percent support. Cornyn has issued a stark warning to Paxton, claiming he will be "unelectable" and accusing him of infidelity, while also spending tens of millions on attack ads against him. Meanwhile, in the Democratic primary, State Representative James Talarico holds a narrow lead over U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, with just five percentage points separating them. The primary elections are taking place today, March 3, 2026, and if no candidate secures over 50 percent of the vote, a runoff is expected in May. Notably, President Trump has yet to endorse any candidate in this contentious race, while Cornyn's past bipartisan actions and support for a gun-safety bill have drawn criticism from some Republican voters.