\n Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is expected to meet with Senate Majority Leader John Thune after defeating U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican Senate runoff | Images by Office of the Texas Attorney General and Office of U.S. Sen. John Thune <\/p>\n
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Sunday that he plans to meet with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) this week after defeating U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the Republican Senate runoff.<\/p>\n
The meeting would put Paxton face-to-face with the Senate GOP leader who backed Cornyn during the primary while conservatives continue pressing Republican leadership to advance the stalled SAVE America Act.<\/p>\n
Paxton discussed the planned meeting during a Sunday Fox News appearance, according to a clip posted on X.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udea8 NOW: Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton is soon meeting with LEADER JOHN THUNE after unseating John Cornyn<\/p>\n
Thune just lost an ally, now he\u2019s gotta elect Paxton so we can defeat James Talarico (D)! \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n
Should\u2019ve passed the SAVE America Act. pic.twitter.com\/vcvk24z4jg<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n As previously reported<\/a> by The Dallas Express, Paxton defeated Cornyn in the May 26 runoff despite a massive spending gap, ending Cornyn\u2019s bid for a fifth term and setting up a November race against Democratic nominee James Talarico.<\/p>\n Thune Pivots After Cornyn Loss<\/p>\n Thune pivoted to support Paxton after the runoff, despite backing Cornyn during the primary.<\/p>\n Thune told<\/a> conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt last week that Republican voters in Texas had chosen Paxton and that Republicans now needed to \u201cpivot and go all-in\u201d for him in November.<\/p>\n The shift matters because Cornyn had deep ties to Senate Republican leadership, while Paxton ran as the Trump-backed candidate challenging the party\u2019s Washington establishment.<\/p>\n Paxton\u2019s victory also followed months of pressure over the SAVE America Act, a voting bill that President Donald Trump and many conservatives have pushed Senate Republicans to pass.<\/p>\n Talarico Faces Scrutiny Over Past Remarks<\/p>\n The meeting also comes as Paxton\u2019s Democratic opponent, James Talarico, faces renewed scrutiny over past comments on religion, abortion, and \u201ctransgender\u201d policy.<\/p>\n As previously reported<\/a> by The Dallas Express, Talarico said in a 2021 Texas House floor speech that \u201cGod is both masculine and feminine, and everything in between. God is nonbinary.\u201d<\/p>\n Talarico said<\/a> on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that \u201cabortion and gay marriage\u201d were \u201ctwo issues that aren\u2019t mentioned in the Bible, two issues that Jesus never talked about.\u201d<\/p>\n President Donald Trump also targeted Talarico after the March primary, calling him a \u201cFRAUD\u201d and saying, \u201cHe\u2019s got six Genders, insults to Jesus, only vegan food, was wearing a mask in 2023 and 2024, and is a weak, ineffective guy,\u201d as previously reported<\/a> by The Dallas Express.<\/p>\n The contrast gives Republicans an early general-election frame: Paxton is moving to consolidate Senate GOP support after ousting Cornyn, while Talarico enters the November race with past statements already drawing renewed attention.<\/p>\n SAVE America Act Remains Stalled<\/p>\n The White House describes the SAVE America Act<\/a> as a proposal that would require valid ID before registering to vote in a federal election, require proof of citizenship, and restrict mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military service, or travel.<\/p>\n As previously reported<\/a> by The Dallas Express, Paxton used the bill as leverage during the runoff fight, saying in March that he would consider dropping out of the race if Senate leadership agreed to lift the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act.<\/p>\n Cornyn later expressed support for altering Senate rules to pass the measure, marking a shift from his earlier position, as previously reported<\/a> by The Dallas Express.<\/p>\n The Senate began debating the SAVE America Act in March, but the bill has struggled to advance. Fox News reported<\/a> in March that multiple GOP senators and House members said the voter ID bill could not pass and would not survive budget reconciliation.<\/p>\n In April, four Republican senators joined Democrats in rejecting an effort to attach the citizenship verification measure to a party-line funding package, Fox News reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Paxton-Thune meeting now comes as Senate Republicans face pressure to unite behind Paxton in Texas while explaining why one of Trump\u2019s top election-integrity priorities remains stalled in Washington.<\/p>\n