Texas GOP Runoff Vote Count Begins Between 2 Senate Rivals as Trump Backs Paxton

8 articles · Updated · FOX 7 Austin · May 26

Polls closed across most of Texas, and live counting began in the Republican Senate runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The winner will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in the Nov. 3 general election, a race both Republicans were reported to trail in hypothetical matchups last month.
More than $19.7 million in runoff ad spending underscored the stakes, with AdImpact tallying about $16 million for Cornyn and $3.7 million for Paxton by May 13.
Trump endorsed Paxton last week after months of silence, capping a bitter runoff in which the two Republicans traded attacks on social media and in ads.
Texas remains difficult terrain for Democrats despite Talarico's opening, with no Democrat winning a statewide race there since 1994.

How will this record-breaking campaign spending reshape strategies for future elections nationwide?

Can a candidate leading in runoff polls overcome electability concerns for the general election?

What does this runoff reveal about evolving voter priorities in a major state election?