Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton didn't pull any punches in his first campaign rally Monday, drawing a stark contrast between his America First record and what he called Senator John Cornyn's decades of swamp-dwelling establishment politics.
With early voting beginning Tuesday for Texas's 2026 primary elections, Paxton is positioning himself as the true conservative alternative to Cornyn, who has served in the Senate since 2002 but has increasingly drawn criticism from grassroots Republicans for his moderate positions and willingness to work with Democrats.
"Texas deserves a senator who fights for our values, not someone who's been captured by the Washington establishment," Paxton told the fired-up crowd. The Attorney General has built a national profile by taking on Big Tech censorship, defending election integrity, and challenging federal overreach – exactly the kind of fighter Trump supporters want in the Senate.
"While I've been fighting the deep state and protecting Texas from Biden's radical agenda, where has John Cornyn been? Playing nice with Chuck Schumer and the swamp creatures who want to destroy America."
Cornyn's record gives Paxton plenty of ammunition. The senator has repeatedly frustrated conservatives by supporting gun control measures, backing massive spending bills, and failing to stand up to the administrative state when it mattered most. His 2022 vote for the so-called "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" – gun control legislation pushed by Democrats – particularly enraged Second Amendment supporters across Texas.
This primary fight represents a broader battle for the soul of the Republican Party. President Trump has already shown he's willing to back primary challengers against RINOs who don't support the America First agenda. Paxton's proven track record of actually fighting – not just talking tough – makes him exactly the kind of candidate Trump needs in the Senate to advance his second-term priorities.
Texas Republicans now have a clear choice: stick with the establishment politician who's been part of the problem, or elect a proven fighter who's actually delivered results. With early voting starting, patriots across the Lone Star State will soon decide whether they want more of the same swamp politics or a senator who'll actually fight for them.
The question isn't whether Cornyn will try to reinvent himself as a conservative – it's whether Texas voters will buy it after two decades of disappointment.