Paxton sweeps Cornyn in primary runoffs

Republican and Democratic candidates made decisive victories both in Colorado County and statewide in the primary runoffs last Tuesday, May 26.

Republican Runoffs 

After receiving a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump after early voting had started, current attorney general Ken Paxton won the party’s candidacy for U.S. senator, defeating incumbent John Cornyn. Paxton earned 71.76% of the votes in Colorado County and 63.84% statewide. 

Paxton will face the increasingly popular Democratic candidate and state representative James Talarico in the November midterms. According to the Texas Tribune, Trump’s endorsement and Paxton’s subsequent win shook a majority of Republican senators who backed Cornyn, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune. 

Paxton will lose his seat as attorney general, and state senator Mayes Middleton will be the Republican’s party next candidate. Middleton won by a small margin in Colorado County and received 58.41% of the vote. Statewide, he earned a slim 55.24% of the vote. 

Democratic Runoffs

Winning two-thirds of the vote, Vikki Goodwin will be the Democratic party’s pick to face Dan Patrick for lieutenant governor. Goodwin received 68.98% of the vote in Colorado County and 67.76% of the vote statewide. 

Democratic voters statewide favored the winning candidate for attorney general, Nathan Johnson, more than Colorado County voters. Johnson received 52.31% of the vote locally compared to 60.51% statewide.

The votes for 14^th Court of Appeals District, Place 7 judge faced an even larger divine between Colorado County and state. Locally, Michael Adams-Hurta, who received 48.61% of the vote, inched past William Demond, who received 45.83%. However, Demond surged past Adams-Hurta statewide. Demond received 63% of the votes, and Adams-Hurta received 37% — a significant difference of 26%.