One of the most formidable conservative contenders of the 2026 cycle may have already outpaced his incumbent rival in Texas. State Attorney General Ken Paxton reported raising $2.1 million more than U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the second quarter—leaving the longtime senator in the political dust.
Paxton’s campaign announced the fundraising haul in a press release that took a sharp jab at the senator, mockingly referring to him as “Little John.” Paxton said: “The fundraising numbers paint a very clear picture. The movement to fire John Cornyn has more enthusiasm right now than any other Senate campaign in America.”
He also noted that his campaign has raised more cash than any other non-incumbent Republican thus far ahead of the midterms.
“There’s nothing about the lies that ‘Little John’ fed the media on Monday that can change the fact that his campaign committee couldn’t even raise $1 million last quarter, let alone the $3.9 million he claimed. I’d encourage every reporter in America right now to reach out to John Cornyn to ask him this simple question: Are you really that bad at math or did you purposely mislead the public about the truth?” Paxton said.
However, in a competing press release issued Monday, Cornyn’s campaign claimed it had actually outraised Paxton, reporting a combined $3.9 million haul for the second quarter between his campaign and affiliated super PAC. The four-term senator began July with $8.9 million cash on hand—well short of what’s needed to compete in expensive media markets like Dallas and Houston.
“We are confident that we are on track to have the necessary resources to communicate to Texas GOP primary voters about Senator Cornyn’s conservative record and provide facts about Ken Paxton’s repeated mismanagement of his office, ethical failures and funding of radical left-wing groups with taxpayer grants,” Cornyn campaign manager Andy Hemming told The Hill.
Texas may not be turning blue anytime soon, but Democrats are eagerly eyeing the possibility of Cornyn—long a top ally of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—getting ousted by a hard-right challenger in the GOP primary.