John Cornyn Takes Aim At Ken Paxton After Texas GOP Runoff Is Set: 'Flawed, Self-Centered Candidate'

Republican Sen. John Cornyn took aim at Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after a runoff between the two was set following the party's primary on Tuesday as neither managed to get more than 50% of the vote.

Cornyn said on Tuesday that he refuses to "allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton to risk everything we've worked so hard to build over these many years." "There is simply too much at stake in this midterm election for our state and for our country."

Cornyn's performance was better than expected, getting over 42% of the vote, compared to Paxton's 40.9%. Rep. Wesley Hunt got 13.2% of the support.

Paxton, in turn, took aim at Cornyn, accusing him of working closely with Democrats while in office, including on gun control legislation. "For too long he sold us out to Democrats," he said.

The two have clashed repeatedly during the campaign, including at the personal. "Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife. She is divorcing him on biblical ground so now Paxton is wrecking another home, sleeping around with a married woman mother of seven," a recent ad claims.

It goes on to say that the Texas attorney general has "increased his net worth by 7,000%" since taking office and has given "millions of tax dollars to left-wing organizations, including the Montrose Center that host drag queen shows performed gender affirming services to kids as young as seven."

"Now think of the Paxton dirty deeds we don't know about yet. The wife cheater and fraud or the Texas work horse?" the ad says, claiming that the choice for voters is clear.

Cornyn has already taken aim at Paxton over his personal life. Earlier this month his campaign replied to an attack from the official by saying that "when this over, you will have nothing. Which turns out to be the same thing you offered to give Angela in divorce proceedings."

Paxton's ex-wife, Angela, filed for divorce in July last year after 38 years of marriage. She cited "biblical grounds" to back her decision.

In the Democratic camp, Jasmine Crockett conceded losing the Texas' Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate against state Rep. James Talarico, saying that the party must "rally around our nominee."

"I'm committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot," Crockett added on Wednesday.

The Associated Press called the race as Talarico had over 53% of the vote, compared to Crockett's 45.5%, according to the Texas Secretary of State's Office.

"Tonight, the people of our state gave this country a little bit of hope," Talarico told supporters at a rally on Tuesday before the race was called. "And a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing."