Cornyn-Paxton Runoff Tops $120 Million, Becoming Costliest Senate Primary in U.S. History
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · May 15
Cornyn-Paxton Runoff Tops $120 Million, Becoming Costliest Senate Primary in U.S. History
1 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · May 15
$120 million-plus has been spent on the Texas Republican Senate primary and May 26 runoff, including $21 million in the runoff alone, according to AdImpact.
Cornyn’s side has driven much of the spending surge, with his campaign and allied groups far outspending Paxton through joint fundraising committees, super PACs and dark-money nonprofits.
Texans for a Conservative Majority led outside spending for Cornyn at about $32.9 million in ads, while Rick Perry-backed Lone Star Freedom Project added $17.4 million before the runoff.
Paxton’s operation has been smaller—his campaign spent about $4.8 million on ads and allied Lone Star Liberty PAC about $4.2 million—though both camps have saturated voters with attack ads.
The donor network spans Wall Street billionaires, Texas executives, Washington insiders and opaque nonprofits, underscoring how dark money and outside groups now dominate marquee GOP primaries.
What is the true return on investment for donors in America's most expensive primary race?
With a polarized electorate, how does record-breaking ad spending actually influence the final vote?
Record $120 Million Texas GOP Senate Runoff: Historic Spending, Party Infighting, and a Rising Democratic Challenge
Overview
The 2026 Texas U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff between Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton set a new record as the most expensive primary in U.S. history. This historic contest saw an extraordinary influx of money, with over $120 million spent on advertising across both rounds and $21 million during the runoff alone. The massive spending was driven by a diverse network of campaigns, PACs, and dark money groups, who actively supported their candidates for nearly a year. Most of the funds were used for extensive advertising campaigns, highlighting the intense competition and deep divisions within the Republican Party.