Texas Senate Candidates in Quiet Campaign Mode Ahead of Runoff

In Texas, voters will find the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate largely absent from public view as the runoff approaches. No major campaign events are scheduled for Sen. John Cornyn or state Attorney General Ken Paxton on the final day of the race, which has lasted over a year. Their campaign continues intensely, fueled by advertising spending exceeding $109 million, predominantly from Cornyn’s camp.

Sen. Cornyn will host a non-campaign event in San Antonio to honor high school graduates attending service academies. His last public campaign appearance took place in Corpus Christi on Friday. Paxton concluded his campaign appearances with events in Austin and San Antonio, opting to let his campaign messaging be handled by a super PAC. Notably, former President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton, dismissing Cornyn for having strained relations with him.

Throughout the weekend, Trump reiterated his support for Paxton, criticizing Cornyn for his perceived disloyalty. Trump’s strong rebuke of Cornyn echoes sentiments towards Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and other GOP incumbents who face backlash for opposing Trump’s agenda. Republican voters in Indiana and Kentucky have similarly chosen primary challengers over incumbents aligned against Trump.

The campaigns continue to reach Texas’ 18.7 million voters with advertising, led by Cornyn’s side. Despite Cornyn’s significant spending advantage—nine-to-one over Paxton’s groups—recent weeks have seen a reduction in this gap. Cornyn’s network persists in airing advertisements targeting Paxton’s ethical and personal controversies, alongside spots highlighting Cornyn’s voting alignment with Trump.

Meanwhile, Paxton’s team and supportive groups have refocused on Trump’s endorsement. Lone Star Liberty Fund, Paxton’s primary super PAC, launched ads questioning state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominee, over the weekend.