Who Is Ken Paxton? Texas Attorney General Who Ousted Sen. John Cornyn In GOP Primary Runoff

Last Updated:May 27, 2026, 11:05 IST

Paxton currently serves as the 51st Attorney General of Texas, a role he has held since January 2015.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican US Senate primary runoff on Tuesday. Paxton received an endorsement from President Donald Trump last week, and his win highlighted the President’s continued influence within the Republican Party.

The result, called shortly after polls closed by major US media outlets including Fox News and CNN, marked a significant upset within the Republican establishment. Paxton’s victory was bolstered by a late endorsement from Trump, which many reports say proved decisive in consolidating support among the party’s base.

The win positions Paxton as the Republican nominee for a Senate seat in Texas, a state that has long remained a Republican stronghold but is expected to see a closely contested battle as Democrats aim to narrow GOP dominance in the chamber.

Democrats have reportedly viewed Paxton as a more vulnerable general election candidate compared to Cornyn, raising expectations that the race could become one of the most competitive Senate contests in the upcoming cycle.

Who Is Ken Paxton?

Paxton currently serves as the 51st Attorney General of Texas, a role he has held since January 2015. First elected in 2014, he has since won two re-elections in 2018 and 2022, building a profile as one of the most prominent conservative legal voices in the United States.

As the state’s chief legal officer, Paxton oversees a large office comprising more than 4,000 employees across dozens of divisions and offices. His responsibilities include enforcing child support laws, tackling consumer fraud, defending state policies in court, and advising state agencies on legal matters.

Born in 1962, Paxton studied at Baylor University, where he earned a degree in psychology and an MBA while serving as student body president. He later obtained his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and worked in private practice and corporate legal roles, including at J.C. Penney, before establishing his own law firm.

His political career began in the Texas House of Representatives in 2002, representing a fast-growing suburban district, before he moved to the Texas Senate in 2013. Over the years, he has become closely aligned with the Republican Party’s conservative wing and a vocal supporter of Trump-era policies.

News world Who Is Ken Paxton? Texas Attorney General Who Ousted Sen. John Cornyn In GOP Primary Runoff

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