With 11 days to go until early voting begins, Sen. John Cornyn sits down with KHOU 11 as Attorney General Ken Paxton remains silent.
HOUSTON — The battle for control of the U.S. Senate could run through Texas, putting a national spotlight on the Republican runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
KHOU 11 reached out to both candidates for one-on-one interviews about the race, but only Cornyn agreed to sit down.
What was already a bitter and expensive primary has escalated into an even more contentious runoff, with both candidates trading sharp attacks.
During his interview, Cornyn doubled down on criticism of Paxton, calling him “unfit for this office,” while also saying he would ultimately support the Republican ticket.
“I’m very serious when I say that Ken Paxton is unfit for this office,” Cornyn said.
Still, Cornyn expressed confidence in his campaign, pointing to a financial advantage in the final weeks leading up to the May 26 runoff.
“I’m optimistic we’ll be successful, but it depends on who decides to show up,” he said.
Recent nonpartisan polling shows Paxton leading by single digits, with roughly 11% of voters still undecided. A significant share of voters who previously supported Rep. Wesley Hunt also remain undecided, making them a key bloc in the race’s final stretch.
When asked how he plans to win over those voters, Cornyn emphasized both experience and character.
“By any standard, Ken Paxton has failed the character test,” he said.
The same polling also found nearly one in four Cornyn voters would consider backing Democrat James Talarico if Paxton becomes the GOP nominee.
Cornyn dismissed that possibility, saying he expects Republicans to unify after the runoff.
“This always happens after a family fight,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the most closely watched factors in the race remains a potential endorsement from President Donald Trump that has yet to materialize. Cornyn acknowledged uncertainty about whether it will come, saying his campaign is focused on voter turnout rather than waiting on Trump’s decision.
KHOU 11 also requested an interview with Paxton for this story. His campaign did not respond. Multiple interview requests have been extended since February and remain open.
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