Cornyn's campaign quickly shot back at the long-hinted announcement, calling Paxton a 'fraud' and pointing to his 2023 impeachment by the Texas House.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched his long-anticipated campaign Tuesday for the 2026 Senate race to challenge Sen. John Cornyn, settling up what is expected to be a bitter and expensive primary that some fear could hurt Republicans in the general election.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is running for the U.S. Senate in a primary challenge against Republican Sen. John Cornyn, setting up what is likely to become one of the GOP’s most contentious and expensive contests of 2026.