Paxton Sweeps CPAC Straw Poll as “MAGA Candidate” for Senate

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, the final day of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Grapevine, Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton was hailed as the “unofficial guest of honor.” The conference served as a major momentum boost for Paxton ahead of the May 26 runoff against four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn, with activists clearly signaling that the “establishment” era of the Texas GOP is under siege.

Paxton’s dominance was formalized in the CPAC 2026 straw poll, where he defeated Cornyn by a staggering margin of more than three to one, securing 67% of the vote to Cornyn’s 21%.

The “Grassroots Choice” vs. The “Establishment”

The atmosphere at the Gaylord Texan Resort reflected a deep ideological rift between the MAGA base and the Senate GOP leadership:

• The “Roar” for Paxton: Throughout the weekend, mentions of Paxton’s name were met with thunderous cheers, while mentions of Senator Cornyn—who did not attend the event—elicited a “light ripple of boos.”
• Bannon’s Endorsement: Former White House strategist Steve Bannon extolled Paxton as “emblematic of the grassroots of the MAGA movement,” framing the primary as a battle against a “Washington swamp” that wants Paxton’s “complete destruction.”
• Victimhood Narrative: Paxton leaned heavily into his history of impeachment and acquittal by the Texas Legislature, drawing direct parallels between his legal battles and the President’s, casting both as victims of “political persecution.”

Policy Clashes: The “SAVE Act” and the Filibuster

The primary fight has recently narrowed to a specific legislative dispute that Paxton has used to “call out” Cornyn’s conservative credentials:

1. The SAVE Act: This legislation, which requires strict proof of citizenship for voting, is a top priority for the administration but has stalled in the Senate.
2. The Filibuster: Paxton accused Cornyn of being a “coward” for refusing to bypass the filibuster to pass the act. In a move described by some CPAC attendees as “brilliant maneuvering,” Paxton’s pressure reportedly forced Cornyn into a recent op-ed reversal, where the Senator finally stated he would support “whatever changes to Senate rules prove necessary” to pass the bill.
3. The “Too Little, Too Late” Response: During his Saturday reception, Paxton dismissed Cornyn’s shift as a desperate primary tactic, telling supporters, “John Cornyn has never been focused on this issue until right now, when I called him out on it.”

The Shadow of an Endorsement

The most conspicuous absence at the conference was a formal endorsement from the White House.

• The President’s Silence: Despite promising an endorsement weeks ago, the President has remained neutral in the runoff.
• The Mar-a-Lago Meeting: Reports surfaced during CPAC that Paxton visited the President at Mar-a-Lago last week for a “friendly conversation,” fueling speculation that an endorsement could be imminent.
• Voter Sentiment: Many CPAC activists, like 21-year-old student Luke Brown, told reporters that Paxton is simply “more an ally of Trump” regardless of a formal nod, citing Cornyn’s past criticisms of the border wall and his support for bipartisan gun control.

Runoff Outlook

While Cornyn finished slightly ahead in the March 3 primary (41.9% to 40.7%), he failed to clear the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff. With Rep. Wesley Hunt now out of the race, the battle for Hunt’s 13% of voters will determine the winner. Cornyn retains a significant financial advantage—holding over $15 million in cash—but Paxton’s CPAC performance suggests that the “energy” and “grassroots muscle” are currently on his side.