Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton easily unseated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a Republican primary runoff Tuesday, a week after President Donald Trump weighed in on Paxton’s side.
It’s the third time this month that an incumbent Republican has lost to a Trump-supported primary challenger, as the president seeks to punish lawmakers he deems as insufficiently loyal. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) lost their races in recent weeks.
Also in Texas on Tuesday, hard-right Rep. Chip Roy lost a runoff for attorney general to state Sen. Mayes Middleton, who campaigned on being more aligned with Trump. Renewable energy donors helped Middleton make his case to punish Roy for demanding an end to wind and solar tax incentives.
Energy issues will continue playing a prominent role in Lone Star state contests ahead of the November midterm elections, especially with Paxton taking on Democrat James Talarico in a fight that could help decide who controls the Senate.
