Image: from TEXAN VickyU X @UnderhillVicky
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
DALLAS – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton marked a decisive shift in his bid for the U.S. Senate on Monday night, headlining his first large-scale campaign rally since launching his challenge against incumbent Senator John Cornyn ten months ago. The event, held on the eve of early voting for the March 3 primary, signaled the start of a high-intensity “sprint” for a candidate who has until now relied largely on legal battles and social media to maintain his political momentum.
NEW this year 🗳️ TVs at 3 of our 4 Early Voting sites with sample ballot info + photo ID reminders.
Early Voting starts tomorrow at 8AM. Vote at ANY of our 4 locations.
Let’s stay #1, Saline County. 💪🇺🇸#SalineCoVotes pic.twitter.com/Ef2aKjgWsA
— Doug Curtis Saline County Clerk (@DougCurtisSC) February 16, 2026
The “MAGA” vs. The “Establishment”
Latest commercial dropped
I’m the Trump-trusted, Paxton-endorsed Marine who’s the best R for AG
I will
– Deport illegals
– Defeat leftism
– Defend elections
– Dismantle Dems
– Destroy Sharia
– Defend the Constitution
– Drive Law & OrderEarly vote: Feb 17–27
Elec Day: Mar 3 pic.twitter.com/VolWmw5PON— Aaron Reitz (@aaron_reitz) February 16, 2026
Addressing a crowd of supporters, Paxton leaned heavily into his identity as a “MAGA” warrior, framing the race as a battle for the soul of the Republican Party. He stood alongside prominent allies from the party’s hard-right wing, positioning himself as a disruptor capable of taking a “sledgehammer” to what he calls the “D.C. establishment” embodied by Cornyn.
“It is time for a change in Texas,” Paxton told the audience. “We have one great Senator in Ted Cruz, and it’s time we have another who will actually stand up and fight for our values and fully support President Trump.”
A Fight for Political Survival
Texas Republican Ken Paxton is stepping up his Senate bid against Cornyn https://t.co/rIvQpx522G pic.twitter.com/yGrBKOssc5
— ProgressivePower (@OurProgressive) February 16, 2026
The rally comes as new polling from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs shows a tightening and potentially volatile race:
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The Front-Runner Status: Despite millions of dollars in attack ads targeting his legal history, Paxton holds a slim lead in several recent polls, with 38% of likely GOP primary voters backing him compared to Cornyn’s 31%.
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The Three-Way Split: U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt, who entered the race late last year, currently sits at 17%. Analysts say Hunt’s presence all but guarantees a May runoff, as no candidate appears poised to secure the 50% majority needed to win the nomination outright on March 3.
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The Trump Factor: While Paxton has begun airing ads featuring clips of Donald Trump praising him, the former president has notably not yet issued an official endorsement in the race, calling both men “good friends.”
Cornyn Strikes Back
Senator Cornyn, a four-term incumbent and fixture of Texas politics for over 30 years, has not ceded the ground easily. Backed by a $5.9 million war chest—significantly larger than Paxton’s $3.7 million—Cornyn’s campaign has consistently attacked the Attorney General’s character.
Cornyn has centered his messaging on Paxton’s 2023 impeachment and various legal scandals, including a recent $6.6 million whistleblower judgment. “Texans deserve a senator they can trust, not a fraud who uses his office for personal gain,” a Cornyn campaign spokesperson said in a statement released Monday.
Early Voting Begins
As early voting stations open across the state on Tuesday, the contest is expected to become the most expensive and vitriolic primary in Texas history. With the two titans of the Texas GOP locked in a statistical dead heat, the next two weeks of campaigning will determine if Paxton’s grassroots “insurgency” can topple one of the most powerful figures in the U.S. Senate.