Paxton Leads Cornyn in Texas Senate Runoff as Election Nears

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton leads Senator John Cornyn in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff, according to a new Quantus Insights poll released Monday. This runoff follows the March primary, where neither candidate secured a majority. The outcome may influence the GOP’s trajectory in Texas and decide who will compete against Democratic nominee James Talarico in November.

President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement of Paxton adds weight to this race. Newsweek reached out to Paxton’s campaign for comments. Cornyn’s team opted not to comment on the poll results.

Poll Findings

The poll indicates Paxton holds 52.7% compared to Cornyn’s 43.4%; 3.9% remain undecided. Notably, 58.9% say Trump’s endorsement does not affect their choice.

• Paxton leads among men, women, millennials, Gen Z, and white likely GOP voters.
• Cornyn garners more support among Hispanics, Asians, and ties with Paxton among Black voters.
• Urban voters lean towards Cornyn, while rural voters favor Paxton.

Cornyn’s team posted on X, urging voters to maintain conservative progress. Meanwhile, Paxton encouraged voting aligned with Trump, stressing the significance of every vote. He urged supporters to find their polling locations through VOTETEXAS.GOV.

Trump reiterated his endorsement on Truth Social, praising Paxton’s loyalty and encouraging voters to choose him in the runoff.

Lack of Endorsements from Prominent Republicans

Notably, Texas Governor Greg Abbott remains neutral in this race, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. Other key figures like Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Senator Ted Cruz also abstain from endorsing a candidate, according to USA Today.

The Quantus poll surveyed 1,018 likely Republican voters between May 21 and May 23, with a margin of error of 3.5%.

Other Poll Insights

A separate Texas Southern University/YouGov poll shows a close race between Talarico and either Republican candidate. Cornyn edges Talarico by 1 point, while Paxton ties with him. This poll included 1,223 likely voters surveyed from April 22 to May 6, holding a 2.8% margin of error.

A Texas Public Opinion Research poll indicates Talarico leading both Republicans in potential matchups. He leads Cornyn 44-41%, and Paxton 46-41%. This survey was conducted from April 17 to April 20 among 1,018 likely voters, with a 3.3% margin of error.

A co/efficient poll from last month shows Paxton trailing Cornyn by 1 point, with 13% undecided. It surveyed 1,143 likely Republican voters from April 11 to April 14, holding a margin of error of 3.07%.