Major Midterm Election Shake Up

A major shakeup in the 2026 midterm election looms as Senator John Cornyn’s (TX) defeat to Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sets the stage for a massive showdown against far-Left state Representative James Talarico.

Who will win the U.S. Senate seat amid the ongoing fight over Texas redistricting?

As reported by Fox News:

President Donald Trump and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are the big winners in the Lone Star State’s bitter Republican Senate nomination battle, which spanned for more than a year and became the most expensive Senate primary in history.

Paxton, who was endorsed by Trump just one week ago, convincingly defeated longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn in Tuesday’s runoff election for the Republican nomination. With the vast majority of votes counted early Wednesday morning, Paxton topped Cornyn by over 27 points.

Paxton now faces off against state Rep. James Talarico — a rising star in the Democratic Party — in the general election in a race that is among a handful that may decide if the Republicans hold their slim 53-47 majority in the Senate. Talarico, who topped progressive star Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a vocal Trump critic, in the March primary, is trying to become the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a Senate election in Texas.

Cornyn, speaking to reporters after the race was called, said, “I’ve always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election.” . . .

Trump targeted Cornyn as “VERY disloyal” as he backed Paxton, a major Trump ally and MAGA firebrand, in the final days of the runoff campaign. The ballot-box showdown in right-leaning Texas served as the latest test of Trump’s immense grip over the Republican Party and the strength of his endorsements in GOP nomination races. And once again, Trump easily passed the test.

Last night was a bit of a mixed bag, as we saw some heavy hitters being removed from office, as well as some expected wins and some expected losses. 

Cornyn, whom many would refer to as an establishment Republican, was first elected to the Senate in 2002. And the race saw some jaw-dropping numbers spent – a reported $130 million spent on this primary, $92 million of that for Senator Cornyn.

However, AG  Paxton scored an overwhelming victory with 63.8% over Cornyn’s 36.2% – separated by almost 400,000 votes. In a primary, that is a huge spread.

It should be noted that it’s not easy at any time to unseat a long-term incumbent. We’ve had people talk to us about running for various offices, and we usually tell them bluntly: “You’ve got to have real money to spend, and even then, if you’re facing an incumbent, you are likely going to lose.”

But as this race shows, anything is possible. Clearly, President Trump’s endorsement pushed Paxton over the edge. It certainly seems to indicate that the President still wields considerable leverage – at least within his party.

And not just in Texas. In recent weeks we’ve seen what a Trump blessing can still do. Senator Bill Cassidy (LA) lost his primary. Rep.Thomas Massie (KY-4) lost his primary. We have seen race after race where someone had gone against the President, and they lost after the President supported their opponent.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more analysis of last night’s results and what they might indicate come November. We were also joined by ACLJ Senior Counsel CeCe Heil to discuss the exciting news that she has just been appointed as Commissioner to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Watch the full broadcast below: