John Cornyn Boosts Libertarian Candidate After Primary Defeat

Senator John Cornyn suffered a decisive primary loss to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ending his long tenure in the U.S. Senate. Within a week of the defeat, Cornyn shared an interview with Libertarian Senate nominee Ted Brown, a move that critics say could siphon conservative voters away from Paxton in the November general election.

The interview highlighted Brown’s strategy of courting Republicans dissatisfied with the primary outcome. Cornyn’s post read, “I’d prefer a Republican to somebody like James Talarico,” while also indicating he would focus on “the more winnable races around the country.” Observers argue the endorsement signals an attempt to undermine Paxton, whose campaign enjoys strong structural advantages in a traditionally red state.

Political analysts note that the Texas Senate race remains tight, with prediction markets giving Paxton roughly a 60% chance of victory over Democratic challenger James Talarico. Brown’s previous performance—over 267,000 votes in the 2024 Senate race—makes him a potentially decisive third‑party spoiler, and Cornyn’s involvement adds further controversy to the post‑primary dynamics.