Election Night: Paxton Defeats Cornyn—What Happened, Why & What’s Next

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson · May 27, 2026 · 39m · transcript

1. Election Results & Significance

Ken Paxton wins decisively with roughly 64% vs 36% (a ~28-point margin).

This is described as:

A major upset for an incumbent

A “sea change” in Republican politics

Cornyn had:

24 years in the Senate

Significant institutional power and funding

Despite heavy financial backing (over $100M+ spent, mostly for Cornyn), Paxton wins overwhelmingly.

2. Why Paxton Won

Several factors are highlighted:

✅ Anti-establishment sentiment

The race was a:

“Conservative grassroots vs establishment Republican”

Voters favored a more ideological…