Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn trailed conservative Attorney General Ken Paxton in another Senate primary poll released on Tuesday as Republican voters consider ousting the incumbent who first elected more than 20 years ago, though a Cornyn spokesperson told Newsweek the survey "doesn't pass the smell test."

Why It Matters

Cornyn's precarious standing in the Texas Republican primary demonstrates deep divides among the state's conservative voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections when Democrats are eyeing the seat as a potential flip in their quest to win back a Senate majority. It's the latest intraparty battle for Republicans as President Donald Trump , who is so far staying neutral in the race, has reshaped the party over the past decade.

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