Texas, United States: Republican voters ousted Senator John Cornyn in the Texas GOP primary runoff Tuesday, choosing Trump-backed Attorney General Ken Paxton instead.
The Associated Press called the race for Paxton about an hour after polls closed. With 76% of votes counted at 10 pm, Paxton led Cornyn by 28 points.
President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton late in the runoff. The result showed Trump’s power in Republican primaries, even against longtime party figures.
Paxton told supporters the win marked the start of a fight to protect conservative values. Cornyn said he accepted the voters’ decision and would support the Republican ticket.
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Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico in November. Cornyn’s allies warned that Paxton’s legal troubles could make the race harder for Republicans.
