Final Stages in Texas Republican Senate Runoff

In Texas, the Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate limited their public appearances on the eve of the runoff election. There were no campaign events held by Sen. John Cornyn or state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday. Their campaign efforts focused on advertising, predominantly from Cornyn’s side.

Cornyn planned to attend a non-campaign event in San Antonio honoring high school graduates heading to the nation’s service academies. On Friday, he concluded his last public campaign event in Corpus Christi before the Tuesday election.

Paxton concluded his campaigning with events on Thursday in the Austin area and San Antonio. His campaign relied heavily on President Donald Trump’s endorsement of him on May 19. This was significant, given Cornyn’s strained public relationship with the president. Early voting ended on Friday.

On Sunday, Trump reiterated his support for Paxton while criticizing Cornyn for his perceived lack of loyalty. Trump labeled Cornyn as disloyal for dismissing Trump’s potential 2024 presidential run. This aligned with previous rebukes of other senators like Louisiana’s Sen. Bill Cassidy, reflecting ongoing Republican primary challenges.

Despite a small expected voter turnout among Texas’ 18.7 million eligible voters, both campaigns continued intense advertising efforts, favoring Cornyn’s side. According to Wayne Hamilton, former executive director of the Texas Republican Party, these efforts reflected a fierce battle among candidates and their supporters.

Throughout the past year, Cornyn and his supporting PACs heavily outspent Paxton’s backers nearly nine-to-one. However, in the runoff’s final week, the spending gap narrowed significantly. Pro-Cornyn ads attacked Paxton over ethical issues, while also highlighting Cornyn’s Senate support for Trump’s policies.

Paxton’s supporters focused midweek on Trump’s endorsement, with his Lone Star Liberty Fund later targeting state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominee. The runoff reflects a continued struggle within the party over Trump loyalties and campaign strategies.