Sen. Cornyn Attacks Paxton Over Potential Illegal Texas Campaign Contributions

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing scrutiny over his Senate campaign's acceptance of approximately $658,000 in potentially illegal contributions, as flagged by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Sen. John Cornyn, Paxton's Republican primary rival, has launched a digital ad campaign highlighting these campaign finance issues and other ethical concerns, accusing Paxton of repeatedly violating laws and failing to disclose substantial donations during his 2022 attorney general reelection campaign. The FEC has demanded that Paxton's campaign provide explanations or take corrective actions by September 22. Meanwhile, a Texas Southern University poll shows Paxton leading Cornyn in the GOP primary by a narrower margin than before, as Cornyn has significantly increased his campaign spending to close the gap. Paxton has criticized Cornyn as a "Washington insider" who has supported gun control and immigration policies at odds with conservative Texas voters, further intensifying their primary battle. Both candidates are actively seeking to sway voters ahead of the 2026 election, with Cornyn emphasizing Paxton's alleged legal and ethical failures and Paxton attacking Cornyn's record and alignment with Washington politics.