In Plano, Texas, Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, Sen. John Cornyn and State Attorney General Ken Paxton, continued their campaigns primarily through advertising rather than public events. Monday marked the final day of their efforts leading to the Tuesday runoff election.
Cornyn, seeking a fifth term, did not hold a public campaign event but was scheduled for a non-campaign event in San Antonio to honor high school graduates attending service academies. His last campaign event took place in Corpus Christi on Friday.
Paxton’s final campaign events occurred on Thursday in the Austin area and San Antonio. His campaign emphasized President Donald Trump’s endorsement from May 19. Trump’s comments supported Paxton and criticized Cornyn’s relationship with the president.
Early voting ended Friday. Trump reaffirmed his backing for Paxton on Sunday, disparaging Cornyn for lacking loyalty. This sentiment mirrored Trump’s previous criticisms of other GOP candidates who opposed him.
The runoff election involves relentless advertising, with Cornyn’s campaign spending significantly more than Paxton’s. Wayne Hamilton, ex-director of the Texas Republican Party, described the advertising battle as a fierce contest.
“It’s just a slug fest,” Hamilton remarked, highlighting the intensity of the campaign spending.
Over the year, Cornyn’s campaign and supporting super PACs have outspent Paxton’s by nearly nine-to-one. As the runoff approached, the gap narrowed, with pro-Cornyn ads spending less than double Paxton’s.
Cornyn’s advertisements targeted Paxton’s ethical and personal controversies, while also bringing attention to Cornyn’s support for Trump’s priorities in the Senate. Paxton’s campaign shifted to ads highlighting Trump’s endorsement, with his primary super PAC launching ads questioning state Rep. James Talarico, the Texas Democratic Senate nominee.