Trump in 'complete and total control' of Republican Party after Paxton ousts Cornyn in landslide Texas primary runoff

Ken Paxton.

President Donald Trump notched another endorsement victory as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cruised to victory over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a closely-watched primary runoff. 

Paxton won the race in a landslide, capturing nearly 64% of the vote to Cornyn's 36%, a dramatic shift from the initial primary in March when Cornyn barely edged Paxton, 42% to 41%, according to NBC News. The huge win by Paxton comes after Trump endorsed him last week, calling him a "true MAGA warrior," and brings an end to Cornyn's tenure representing Texas after four terms. 

In his acceptance speech, Paxton praised Trump's power and courage as a political kingmaker. “When everyone in Washington told him to abandon me and abandon the people of Texas, he didn’t listen,” Paxton told supporters after his big win. “President Trump is the leader of our party, and his endorsement is the most powerful force in politics.” He also vowed to support Trump's agenda and back the SAVE Act, which the Senate has failed to vote on months after the House passed it. 

Political pundits also expressed the same sentiment about Trump's hold over the GOP. Longtime polling guru Frank Luntz discussed the phenomenon in a post on X Tuesday night. "There is zero doubt tonight that Donald Trump is in complete and total control of the Republican Party. He can beat just about any Republican in just about any state in just about any primary. He is chief strategist, chief advocate, and chief voice of the GOP," Luntz said.

Cornyn's ouster comes a week after another high-profile member of Congress lost a primary race to a Trump-backed candidate. U.S. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost a primary race to challenger Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL endorsed by Trump. The Texas result extends Trump's 2026 winning streak to 117 victories for candidates he's backed in primary races, an astonishing figure that shows just how much Trump is flexing his political muscles. Watch the video below for a breakdown of Trump's remarkable success in primary races.