Who is Ken Paxton and what is Paxton running on in the 2026 Texas Senate race?

Ken Paxton is the Republican candidate for Texas U.S. Senate. Texas Attorney General since 2015; impeached by the Texas House in 2023 and acquitted by the Senate; defeated Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 runoff with 63.8%. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Open seat in effect: incumbent John Cornyn (R) lost the May 26, 2026 GOP runoff to Ken Paxton.
• Rating: Likely R (major forecasters, as of June 2026).
• Polling: Talarico 50, Paxton 44 (Marist, Sept 17 to 20, 2026, RV); Emerson Sept 12 to 14: Talarico 47, Paxton 46.

Why Paxton is behind

• Talarico leads most September polls, including Marist +6, AARP and Univision +4 to 5 and Emerson +1, and wins independents.
• Paxton carries heavy baggage: the 2023 impeachment (acquitted), ethics and legal troubles, and GOP divisions after he ousted Cornyn.
• Talarico has a big money edge ($40.3M raised vs $7.6M), and Republicans have committed more than $60M in emergency ad spending to shore up Paxton.
• Texas’s Republican lean still keeps it close: 52% of voters in Marist’s poll expect Paxton to win despite trailing.

What Paxton is running on

• Cost of living. Offers new tax deductions, an expanded Child Tax Credit and permanent ‘Trump Accounts’.
• Taxes. Supports extending the Trump tax cuts.
• Immigration. Hardline: secure the border and deport people here illegally; opposed DACA.
• Abortion. Seeks a total ban; sued providers who mail abortion pills into Texas.
• Healthcare. Led the legal effort to end the Affordable Care Act.
• Guns. Strongly pro-gun; sued to block local gun restrictions.
• Trump. Campaign built on loyalty to Trump and conservative credentials.

The other candidates

• James Talarico (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.