Senator John Cornyn Leads Fundraising Race in Texas Senate Primary
Senator John Cornyn continues to lead the fundraising race among his Republican primary opponents, raising over $7 million in the last quarter of 2025. His campaign, along with two joint fundraising committees, brought in the largest three-month fundraising total of his career. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has been collaborating with Cornyn through joint committees to maximize fundraising efforts and ad spending at discounted rates.
The Cornyn Lonestar Victory Fund, in partnership with the NRSC, contributed significantly to his fundraising success, bringing in $5.4 million in the fourth quarter. With a total of over $15 million in cash on hand, including nearly $5.9 million in his campaign account, Cornyn maintains a substantial financial advantage over his primary opponents. Despite being outpaced in fundraising by Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton raised $1.1 million in the same quarter.
Paxton's fundraising has declined in recent quarters, but he still holds nearly $3.7 million in cash on hand. While Cornyn has invested heavily in ad spending, both candidates are polling around 30% support among GOP voters. The race is expected to head to a May 26 runoff, with the winner facing either U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett or state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominees.
In addition to his fundraising success, Senator Ted Cruz raised over $1.6 million in the fourth quarter, surpassing both Paxton and Houston Rep. Wesley Hunt, who raised over $1 million for his Senate bid. Pro-Cornyn groups have outspent those supporting Paxton, with significant investments in ad campaigns promoting Cornyn's conservative credentials and priorities.
As the primary election approaches on March 3, candidates will continue to disclose contributions, with the race likely to intensify in the coming months. The financial resources and ad spending of the candidates and their supporters will play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the Republican primary and the subsequent general election.