Cruz warns bruising Cornyn-Paxton primary could test GOP in Texas Senate race

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is warning that Republicans could face a tougher-than-expected general election in Texas as the state’s high-profile Senate primary heads to a runoff between Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Attorney General Ken Paxton in late May. 

“Look, I have concerns about the general election,” Cruz said in an exclusive interview with the Washington Examiner at the 2026 Conservative Political Action Conference. “Regardless of who wins the nomination, the two candidates have attacked each other relentlessly, and the hard Left is really energized. They’re angry. They hate President Donald Trump, and I think they’re going to show up in huge numbers, which means we need to take the general very, very seriously.”

Cruz has declined to take sides in the race despite longstanding ties to both candidates, saying he has worked with Cornyn and Paxton for “many years” and has previously endorsed and campaigned for both.