Cornyn Outraises Paxton in Texas GOP Senate Primary as Big Money Shapes Multiple Republican Races

Jul 14, 2025

Sen. John Cornyn outraised challenger Ken Paxton by $1M in the Texas GOP Senate primary, raising $3.9M to Paxton's $2.9M. The race is shaped by Paxton's recent divorce filing and 2023 impeachment. Big money is also defining open primaries for Attorney General and Comptroller, where candidates are self-financing with personal loans of up to $10 million and attracting funds from megadonors.

Texas 2026 Republican primary landscape

▪The 2026 GOP primaries for Texas attorney general and comptroller are the first open races for those seats in a decade.
▪The Texas House impeached Ken Paxton in 2023 amid accusations he accepted bribes from a real estate developer and abused his office.
▪Houston-area Rep. Wesley Hunt, an ally of Donald Trump, is considering joining the Texas GOP Senate primary race.
▪Ken Paxton's wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce in July 2025, accusing him of adultery.
▪In the Texas GOP Senate primary, Sen. John Cornyn raised $3.9 million between April and June 2025.
▪Ken Paxton is challenging four-term incumbent John Cornyn for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 Republican primary.
▪Attorney General Ken Paxton raised $2.9 million for his Senate campaign during the same period, $1 million less than John Cornyn.

Attorney general race fundraising

▪State Sen. Joan Huffman raised nearly $764,000 for the attorney general race, leaving her with $3 million in her campaign account.
▪In the GOP primary for attorney general, former Department of Justice lawyer Aaron Reitz raised $2.1 million in his first three weeks.
▪State Sen. Mayes Middleton raised just over $165,000 for the attorney general race after a legislative fundraising moratorium lifted.

Comptroller race fundraising

▪Comptroller candidate Don Huffines reported raising $4.7 million, separate from a $10 million personal loan to his campaign.
▪For the GOP comptroller primary, Texas Railroad Commission Chair Christi Craddick raised $2.9 million.
▪Interim comptroller Kelly Hancock raised $1.5 million and reported having $6 million in the bank.

Candidate self-financing strategies

▪Don Huffines, a candidate for comptroller, provided his campaign with a $10 million personal loan.
▪Mayes Middleton, a candidate for attorney general, loaned his campaign $10 million of his own money.
▪Don Huffines's fundraising total for his comptroller campaign also included a $3 million contribution from his brother.

Republican megadonor contributions

▪Aaron Reitz's campaign for attorney general received a $250,000 donation from Pennsylvania billionaire and GOP megadonor Jeff Yass.

Abbott reelection war chest

▪Governor Greg Abbott's campaign reported having a formidable $86 million in cash on hand.
▪Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick raised $5 million over the same period and has about $37 million in his campaign account.
▪Texas Governor Greg Abbott raised more than $20 million in just over a week for his 2026 reelection campaign.