Texas Republicans on Tuesday chose controversial Attorney General Ken Paxton as their Senate nominee over incumbent John Cornyn. Paxton, who has been indicted on bribery charges and previously impeached, received the endorsement of former Donald Trump. The primary was the most expensive of the year.
For Democrats, this choice opens up new opportunities. Their candidate James Talarico, a young state lawmaker and pastor, won the Democratic primary and will face Paxton in November. The party hopes to pull off a surprise win in Texas and flip the Senate majority.
Republicans currently hold 53 of the 100 Senate seats. Democrats would need to defend all their seats and gain four to take control. Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Maine, and Alaska are seen as promising targets. In North Carolina, for instance, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper could capture the seat being vacated by Thom Tillis.
The mood for Democrats has improved: Trump’s approval ratings have fallen, and they have performed unexpectedly well in special elections. Additionally, some candidates are adopting more populist positions, boosting their popularity. In Maine, Democrats hope to defeat longtime incumbent Susan Collins, and in Alaska, former Representative Mary Peltola is considered a strong candidate.
EuroPulse reported on May 26, 2026, about Trump’s support for Paxton and Cornyn’s fight for the Senate seat in Texas (https://europulse.today/trump-unterstuetzt-paxton-texas-republikaner-wahl/).
Source: www.theguardian.com
