Here are the Republican primary runoff candidates for U.S. Senate in Texas
U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will be on the Republican primary ballot after neither received over 50% of the votes in the March 3 election. They were the top vote-getters of eight candidates. President Donald Trump said he was going to endorse in the race, but has not announced his candidate of choice over two months later.
The winner of the May 26 runoff will be on the Nov. 3 ballot to face off against Democratic candidate James Talarico. Here are the Republican candidates’ responses to a Star-Telegram questionnaire. They are listed in the order they’ll appear on the ballot.
John Cornyn
Age (as of March 3): 74
Campaign website: johncornyn.com
Best way for voters to reach you: By getting in touch with my Senate office or one of our district offices
Occupation: U.S. Senator
Education: B.A. in Journalism from Trinity University, J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law
Have you run for elected office before? District Judge (1984-1990) Texas Supreme Court Justice (1990-1997) Attorney General of Texas (1997-2002)
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Texas.
1. District Judge
2. Texas Supreme Court Justice
3. Attorney General of Texas
4. United States Senator from Texas
5. Helping President Trump pass the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and voting to make these provisions permanent in the One Big Beautiful Bill
6. Working with President Trump to secure the border and securing $11 billion in reimbursement for Texas taxpayers for Operation Lone Star
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? No
Who are your top three campaign contributors? My campaign has received maximum campaign contributions from a number of people. A full accounting can be found on the FEC website.
Why are you seeking this office? In this election, character matters. I’ve built trust with Texans during my career in public service, and have the experience necessary to get things done and the track record to prove it. I’ve also been a reliable ally of President Trump, helping him secure the border, support law enforcement, and unleash our economy. We must continue to codify President Trump’s agenda, and I’m eager to continue that work upon re-election.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be? Codifying President Trump’s agenda, supporting our law enforcement to uphold the rule of law, and tackling the affordability crisis by enacting sound economic policies. We are making significant progress with President Trump leading the country, but Congress needs to ensure that his agenda is codified into law so that the effects of his policies are long-term cannot be easily repealed. It’s never been more important to support our law enforcement, and I will continue to do so. Finally, we have made progress in bringing down the cost of living, but we have more work to do in bringing down prices for Americans.
How will you measure your success as a U.S. senator? By the overall well-being of Texans. My first priority is always the people I am sworn to serve. Texas is doing great right now with conservative leadership, with low taxes, a welcoming business climate, and thanks to President Trump, a secure border. Any work I do to get things done in the Senate is ultimately measured against how it impacts the lives of Texans in a positive manner.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents? I have the experience necessary to get things done, and have often been recognized as one of the United States most effective Senators. I’m willing to show up to work and roll up my sleeves for the betterment of Texas, which is not something that one of my opponents can say. I also know that in America, character still matters, and I’ve built trust with Texans over my years of public service. No scandals, just results.
As a U.S. senator, how would you interact and work with members of the opposite party? Are there specific policy ideas where you see opportunities for bipartisanship? It’s difficult when one party has gotten so extreme, and almost reflexively opposes the president and his agenda. Where there are opportunities to collaborate with Democrats on issues that will benefit Texans, I am open to it. I’ve worked across the aisle throughout my career when it makes sense.
What is the biggest challenge facing Texas? How would you address it if elected? Texans want to make certain the border security nightmare of the lawless Biden-era is behind us and I’ve been working with President Trump to make sure that is the case. I also believe tackling our infrastructure challenges must be a priority, along with taking the regulatory boot off the neck of Texas job creators.
What should be prioritized in federal spending that Texans care about, and what, if anything, do you believe should receive less budget allocations? Texans expect Washington to focus on the fundamentals: securing our border, backing the men and women of law enforcement, reinvesting in America, and keeping our nation safe. Federal dollars should go toward border security, public safety, a strong military, and critical infrastructure that helps our economy grow. What should receive less funding is wasteful bureaucracy and programs that don’t deliver results or undermine state and local authority. Fiscal discipline matters to Texas families, and it should matter in Washington, too.
How do you plan to ensure affordability for Texans in the day-to-day as well as in the housing market? I understand their concerns and we’re working hard to make life more affordable for every American, but especially for the next generation. President Trump has helped bring gas prices down and reduced federal regulations that have driven up housing costs. I was proud to stand with him as the chief vote getter for the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered taxes for middle-class families and doubled the Child Tax Credit, putting more money back into parents’ pockets. I was also honored to cast my vote last year to make these provisions permanent through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. There is more to do, but President Trump is leading us in the right direction.
What should Congress do, if anything, to address health care costs and access? Congress should focus on lowering health care costs and expanding access in ways that help patients first, not big insurance companies or bureaucrats. I’ve supported bills to cut prescription drug prices, expand access to rural health care, and empower consumers with Health Savings Accounts so families keep more of their hard-earned money. We must fix what’s broken and put patients and choice at the center of reform.
What should Congress do, if anything, to address security along the U.S.-Mexico border and immigration policy? We must ensure that fuding for ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol remains at the levels necessary to deport illegal aliens and defend our border. I was proud to support billions in funding for these agencies through the One Big Beautiful Bill to ensure our border remains safe and secure, and that criminal illegal aliens are removed from our streets. President Trump has delivered the most secure border in American history, and we must ensure it remains that way. I’m also proud to have fought for and secured $11 billion in reimbursement for Texas taxpayers for Operation Lone Star.
What should Congress do to ensure safety and success in Texas classrooms? Our children are our most important asset because they are the future of our state and our country. We must ensure that they have a safe learning environment and have every opportunity to succeed in school. I believe in empowering parents to make the best decision for their children’s education, and I was proud to support Governor Abbott’s school choice bill. I’ll always support solutions that lead to better educational outcomes for Texas students.
How would you approach foreign policy as a U.S. senator? We should work closely with our allies and always do what is in the best interest of the United States. Right now, China is the greatest national security threat of our time – militarily, economically, and technologically. We cannot allow China to steal American-developed advanced technologies, nor let them use American capital to modernize their military and undermine our security. I’ve led a multitude of efforts to combat Beijing’s vast espionage ambitions. America must stay strong by defending our economic security, rebuilding our industrial base to reconfigure supply chains away from China, and standing firm with our allies against Chinese aggression.
What steps, if any, should the Senate take to prepare for the rise of artificial intelligence? AI is a very powerful tool, and we must balance innovation with safety. I believe we must lead the world in AI technology, but that also means we have a responsibility to create guardrails. I support targeted, commonsense measures that protect children online, protect privacy, increase transparency, and hold bad actors accountable, without stifling innovation or empowering foreign competitors like China. I have backed efforts to crack down on AI-enabled crimes, including the generation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and pushed social media platforms to take greater responsibility for safety and data practices. We can promote innovation and protect the public at the same time, and we must do both to remain competitive and secure.
Ken Paxton
Did not respond.