Trending Now - Cruz Stays Neutral as Paxton Gains MAGA Support Against Cornyn
WHO:
Fox News - Senator Ted Cruz, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Senator John Cornyn, President Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, Mercedes Schlapp, James Talarico, Joe Ropar, Valerie Burge, Barbara Palmer.
WHAT:
ABC News - Ken Paxton was hailed as Republicans’ clear choice for U.S. Senate at CPAC, where he received more than three times the support in a straw poll compared to John Cornyn.
AP News - Paxton stated, “I want you to know, there’s only one reason I got through all that, and it’s by the grace of God,” during his keynote address at the Ronald Reagan dinner on March 27th, 2026.
AP News - Paxton accused Cornyn of being a “coward” regarding the SAVE Act and claimed Cornyn only changed his stance on the filibuster after being called out by him.
Fox News - Ted Cruz is staying neutral in the Texas GOP Senate runoff.
ABC News - Ken Paxton is positioned as the grassroots favorite in the runoff election against John Cornyn.
ABC News - Paxton was the keynote speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and thanked supporters for their loyalty after being impeached and acquitted for corruption charges.
ABC News - Paxton and Cornyn did not secure enough votes in the primary held on March 3rd, 2026, leading to a runoff election on May 26th, 2026.
ABC News - Cornyn finished first in the primary, which also included U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.
ABC News - Paxton has embraced the SAVE Act, which proposes strict proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting.
WHERE:
ABC News - The Conservative Political Action Conference was held in Grapevine, Texas, at a resort and convention center near Dallas.
WHEN:
ABC News - The primary election took place on March 3rd, 2026.
ABC News - The runoff election is scheduled for May 26th, 2026.
ABC News - Paxton spoke at CPAC on March 27th, 2026.
WHY:
ABC News - Some conservative Republicans hold grudges against Cornyn for his past criticisms of Trump, including his co-sponsoring of gun control legislation after the Uvalde shooting in 2022.
ABC News - Paxton is appealing to Trump's base by supporting legislation that aligns with Trump's priorities, such as the SAVE Act.
ABC News - Some conservative Republicans hold grudges against Cornyn for his past criticisms of Trump and his support for gun control legislation.
HOW:
AP News - Paxton's campaign strategy includes portraying himself as a victim of political persecution, similar to Trump, to resonate with the grassroots base.
ABC News - Paxton demonstrated his loyalty to Trump by embracing the SAVE Act, which has stalled in the Senate due to Republican leaders' reluctance to lift the filibuster.
(UPDATED March 29, 2026 19:09 UTC)
At the CPAC event, Ken Paxton emerged as the clear choice for Republicans’ U.S. Senate nomination, receiving over three times the support in a straw poll compared to John Cornyn. During his keynote address at the Ronald Reagan dinner on Friday, Paxton attributed his resilience to the grace of God and accused Cornyn of being a coward regarding the SAVE Act, claiming Cornyn only shifted his stance on the filibuster after being publicly challenged. Some conservative Republicans remain wary of Cornyn due to his past criticisms of Trump and his support for gun control legislation following the Uvalde shooting in 2022, which has influenced Paxton's campaign strategy to frame himself as a victim of political persecution, much like Trump.
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(UPDATED March 29, 2026 11:03 UTC)
In the Texas GOP Senate runoff, Senator Ted Cruz has chosen to remain neutral, while Attorney General Ken Paxton is emerging as the grassroots favorite against Senator John Cornyn. Paxton, who recently spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, is rallying support by aligning himself with Trump's priorities through the SAVE Act, which seeks strict proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. Both candidates failed to secure enough votes in the primary March 3rd, leading to a runoff election scheduled for May 26th.