Paxton’s CPAC Triumph Exposes Republican Civil War

March 29, 2026

Audience members at a CPAC event holding phones and flags

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has emerged as the MAGA movement’s champion in a bruising Republican Senate runoff that exposes deep fractures within the GOP establishment, leaving incumbent Senator John Cornyn fighting for political survival despite his war chest and Washington backing.

Story Snapshot

CPAC activists rally behind Paxton over establishment-backed Cornyn in heated May 26 Senate runoff
Cornyn holds fundraising advantage and primary lead, but trails badly in grassroots enthusiasm
Paxton leverages SAVE Act support to court Trump endorsement, while Cornyn skips CPAC for Senate duties
Battle tests whether MAGA base can overcome establishment money in primary politics

CPAC Becomes Paxton’s Launch Pad

Ken Paxton received a hero’s welcome at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, on March 28, 2026, keynoting the prestigious Ronald Reagan dinner and holding private meetings with energized supporters. The grassroots reception stood in stark contrast to Senator John Cornyn’s notable absence from the event, which bills itself as the world’s largest conservative gathering. CPAC activists openly embraced Paxton as their “clear choice” for the Senate seat, delivering a powerful signal about where the MAGA base stands ahead of the May 26 runoff election.

Establishment Money Versus Grassroots Fire

John Cornyn finished first in the March 3 primary and maintains significant advantages in fundraising and D.C. establishment support, with allied super PACs spending over eight million dollars on advertisements by August 2025. Despite these resources, Cornyn-aligned groups have focused their messaging on highlighting Paxton’s legal and ethical controversies rather than promoting a positive vision. Paxton’s campaign has deliberately conserved resources, avoiding early advertising spending while building momentum through base enthusiasm. The strategy reflects confidence that conservative voters will tune in closer to election day, potentially neutralizing Cornyn’s financial edge when it matters most.

SAVE Act Becomes Proxy Battle for Trump’s Favor

The stalled SAVE Act, requiring proof-of-citizenship for voter registration, has emerged as a critical wedge issue in the race, with both candidates positioning themselves as champions of election integrity. Paxton’s vocal support for the legislation appears designed to ease concerns that Trump might back Cornyn, who cited SAVE Act duties in the Senate as his reason for skipping CPAC. This dynamic places Cornyn in an awkward position: defending his Washington work while the base celebrates Paxton’s confrontational approach to conservative priorities. For MAGA supporters already frustrated with broken promises on avoiding new wars and rising energy costs, the SAVE Act represents a tangible domestic issue where they demand results, not excuses.

GOP Unity Fractures with National Implications

The bitter primary battle threatens to damage Republican prospects in the general election against Democratic nominee James Talarico, with party leaders privately expressing concerns about a fractured base. Texas Republicans face a familiar dilemma: establishment figures view Cornyn as the stronger general election candidate, while MAGA activists prioritize ideological authenticity over electability calculations. This divide mirrors national tensions within the GOP, where grassroots conservatives increasingly challenge incumbents they view as insufficiently committed to America First principles. A Paxton victory would signal that the MAGA movement retains enough power to overcome establishment advantages, potentially encouraging primary challenges nationwide.

CPAC activists embrace Paxton as MAGA's choice for Texas Senate over Cornyn @WashTimes https://t.co/izsa9SmXh4

— Washington Times Local (@WashTimesLocal) March 28, 2026

The May 26 runoff will test whether conservative voters prioritize their frustrations with business-as-usual politics over warnings about electability. Cornyn’s primary lead and superior resources provide a conventional path to victory, but Paxton’s CPAC momentum demonstrates that MAGA enthusiasm remains a potent force in Republican politics. The outcome will reverberate beyond Texas, potentially reshaping how the GOP establishment approaches grassroots conservatives and determining whether challenging incumbents becomes standard practice for the America First movement.