A new poll reveals that Attorney General Ken Paxton enjoys significant support among Texas Republicans, potentially setting the stage for a heated primary battle against incumbent Senator John Cornyn in 2026. While Cornyn maintains a lead, Paxton's candidacy has generated considerable interest, with a substantial portion of voters indicating a willingness to consider him.
A recent poll conducted by the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs has shed light on the potential dynamics of the 2026 Republican US Senate primary in Texas. The poll, which surveyed 556 Texans likely to vote in the 2026 primary and 377 Texans who voted in either the 2022 or 2024 primaries, revealed that over half of Texas Republicans would at least consider voting for Attorney General Ken Paxton if he entered the race against incumbent Senator John Cornyn .
While Cornyn enjoys a higher level of support among likely voters, with 75% saying they would consider voting for him, Paxton's candidacy has generated significant interest. A notable 36% of 2026 primary voters stated they would definitely consider voting for Paxton, and another 32% might consider it.The poll also offered insights into the level of commitment among voters. When asked about their likelihood of reelecting Cornyn, only 28% of likely voters expressed a definite intention to do so, while another 34% indicated they would probably vote for him. These figures contrast with Paxton, where 33% of 2026 primary voters stated they would definitely vote for him, and another 33% expressed a willingness to consider him. Adding the respondents who voted in previous primaries, the support for Cornyn stands at 32% definitely considering, and 43% potentially considering. For Paxton, these figures climb to 36% definitely considering and 32% potentially considering.Beyond Cornyn and Paxton, Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw also emerged as a contender, polling above 50% among 2026 voters. With 21% expressing a definite intention to vote for Crenshaw and 30% potentially considering him, he presents a formidable challenge to both established figures. The poll also assessed the favorability of prominent Republican figures among Texas voters. President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott emerged as the most favorable, while Cornyn garnered a 53% favorable opinion, with 35% viewing him unfavorably. Paxton, on the other hand, enjoyed a 60% favorable rating, compared to 25% unfavorable and 15% undecided. While Paxton has yet to officially declare his candidacy, his recent actions and pronouncements suggest a strong likelihood of a primary challenge against Cornyn.
KEN PAXTON JOHN CORNYN TEXAS SENATE RACE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY 2026 ELECTION REPUBLICAN PARTY TEXAS POLITICS
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