Texas redistricting impacts Paxton-Cornyn Senate race in 2026

A super PAC supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s 2026 primary challenge against longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn is highlighting Paxton’s involvement in Texas’ crucial redistricting battle.

This redistricting conflict in Texas is influencing what is expected to be a tough and expensive Senate race in the upcoming midterm elections.

A digital advertisement by Lone Star Liberty PAC features various cable news segments, emphasizing Paxton’s actions to locate Democratic Texas lawmakers who fled the state to prevent the Republican-controlled legislature from voting on new GOP-drawn congressional maps that would add five more conservative congressional districts.

The ad shows Paxton advocating to “remove some of these legislators from office” and includes endorsements from conservative media personalities. It also includes a photo of Paxton alongside former President Donald Trump, who has not taken sides in the GOP primary contest.

The GOP’s efforts in Texas, supported by Trump, are part of a larger strategy by the party nationwide to maintain control of its slim House majority in the 2026 midterms, historically a challenging time for the party in power.

Trump and his team are aiming to avoid a repeat of the 2018 midterms when Democrats regained the House majority during his first term.

While redistricting battles are unfolding in states across the country, the dispute in Texas is taking center stage in the GOP Senate primary.

According to Texas-based veteran Republican strategist Tyler Norris, Cornyn and Paxton “are using all available resources to demonstrate their commitment to helping the Trump administration gain more congressional seats in 2026.”

Cornyn drew attention to his urgent request to the FBI for assistance in locating the Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas. The FBI has approved his request to find the missing lawmakers.

“I am pleased to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to aid state and local law enforcement in locating the runaway Texas House Democrats,” Cornyn stated. “We cannot allow these rogue legislators to evade their constitutional duties.”

However, it remains uncertain whether the FBI will be able to return the lawmakers to Texas.

Paxton is also investigating whether two political action committees associated with former Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas may have violated state laws by assisting the fleeing lawmakers.

“Any Democrat violating the law by accepting a bribe from Beto will face consequences,” Paxton stated during a recent press conference.

O’Rourke, who narrowly lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2018 midterms and unsuccessfully ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, is considering entering the 2026 Senate race in Texas after losing to Gov. Greg Abbott in the 2022 gubernatorial contest.

He has been vocal in his support for the fleeing Texas Democrats.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, who is considering a U.S. Senate run in 2026, is supportive of Texas Democratic state lawmakers who fled the Lone Star State in the redistricting dispute. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

O’Rourke has criticized Paxton’s actions.

“The individual impeached for bribery is going after those trying to prevent the theft of five Congressional seats,” O’Rourke argued in a social media post. “Let’s stop these criminals before they steal our country.”

Texas state Sen. James Talarico, who is also considering entering the Senate race, is among the Democrats who fled to Illinois to block the legislature from voting on the redistricting plan.

Since arriving in Illinois, Talarico has participated in numerous interviews with media outlets nationwide.

The only prominent Democrat who has announced his candidacy in the Senate race, former Rep. Colin Allred, also supports the fleeing lawmakers.

However, Allred, who is making his second consecutive Senate bid in Texas, has not received as much media attention as Talarico or O’Rourke.