Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is surging ahead of Senator John Cornyn (R) in a new Republican primary poll, which deepens concerns about Senator Cornyn’s future in the Senate.
The poll was commissioned by a Super PAC aligned to Attorney General Paxton, and it was conducted by Pulse Research from June 17–22. It found that the attorney general is leading Senator Cornyn by a commanding 19 points among likely Republican primary voters. Attorney General Paxton scored 57% of support compared to Senator Cornyn’s 38%.
The poll is the latest sign that Senator Cornyn, who has served a long tenure in the Senate, is losing ground with the Texas GOP base.
Even more striking, the poll shows Attorney General Paxton has higher name recognition than Senator Cornyn.
While 89% of Republican voters have an opinion of Attorney General Paxton, only 84% say the same of Senator Cornyn. And though both men are viewed favorably, Attorney General Paxton’s net favorability is substantially stronger at 70% favorable to 18% unfavorable, compared to Senator Cornyn’s 53% favorable to 30% unfavorable.
Attorney General Paxton’s support is particularly strong among voters who identify with President Donald Trump (R).
Among those who call themselves “Trump Republicans,” the attorney general holds a 44-point advantage over Senator Cornyn. Meanwhile, Senator Cornyn leads by 15 points among “Reagan Republicans,” which is a shrinking share of the GOP electorate in Texas.
Rumors of Rep. Wesley Hunt (R) entering the race have swirled in recent weeks, but the poll shows that his candidacy would have little impact on the race. According to the poll, Rep. Hunt would draw equally from both candidates and finish a distant third.
The poll is yet another example of the threat that Attorney General Paxton poses, but Senator Cornyn remains firm in his effort to win what would be a grueling primary.
