Axios Austin

May 27, 2026
It's Wednesday. We're here with election results.
🌧️ Today's weather: Slight chance of thunderstorms, with a high in the low 80s.
🌙 Eid Mubarak to all who are celebrating Eid al-Adha. We wish you and your loved ones a holiday filled with peace, reflection and community.
Today's newsletter is 722 words — a 2.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Paxton wins Senate GOP nomination
Republican primary voters yesterday rejected U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, one of the Senate's most senior GOP members, in favor of President Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Why it matters: Cornyn's loss marks one of the most significant defeats for a Republican senator in years and underscores how loyalty to President Trump continues to reshape GOP primaries nationwide.
- Trump gave Paxton a last-minute endorsement in the runoff.
What they're saying: "Tonight is the beginning of the fight to preserve every value we hold dear," Paxton told supporters, referring to his upcoming general election campaign against Democrat James Talarico.
- "I've always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election," Cornyn told supporters in Austin after his defeat. "I've said throughout this race that I trust the voters of Texas, and they made their decision."
By the numbers: Paxton had 64% of the vote compared to Cornyn's 36%, according to unofficial results.
- The AP called the election in favor of Paxton about an hour after polls closed yesterday.
Zoom in: Paxton successfully cast the race as a referendum on the party establishment, energizing grassroots conservatives while dodging concerns about the legal scandals and impeachment fight that dogged much of his tenure as attorney general.
- The race became one of the country's most closely watched Senate primaries, fueling millions in fundraising and outside spending.
What we're watching: Cornyn and his supporters had warned that the outcome could complicate Republicans' efforts to hold the seat in November against Talarico, a state representative from Austin.
- Paxton's win gives Democrats a potentially more polarizing Republican opponent than Cornyn.
Reality check: A Democrat hasn't won a statewide office in Texas in more than three decades.
2. Middleton defeats Roy in AG race
State Sen. Mayes Middleton of Galveston defeated U.S. Rep. Chip Roy in the GOP runoff for Texas attorney general last night.
Why it matters: Middleton successfully cast himself as the MAGA candidate, even as Trump didn't endorse in the race.
- He will face state Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas), who won the Democratic runoff yesterday.
Catch up quick: The candidates are running to replace Paxton.
Zoom in: Middleton garnered 55% of the vote. Roy won 45%.
Between the lines: Each Republican campaign raised millions of dollars, with Mayes, an oil company president, contributing more than $15 million of his own money to his campaign.
- Middleton, who dubbed himself "MAGA Mayes," hammered Roy over his condemnation of Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. Roy promoted himself as a founder of the "Sharia Free America" caucus.
3. 🤠 The Roundup: Wrangling the news
George Morales defeated Susanna Ledesma-Woody for Travis County Precinct 4 Commissioner. No Republican candidates ran for the seat. (KUT)
Montserrat Garibay defeated Kathie Tovo in the Texas House District 49 Democratic runoff. (Austin American-Statesman)
Johnny Garcia won the Democratic runoff for the 35th Congressional District, defeating a candidate who came under fire for making antisemitic remarks. (Axios)
State Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) defeated Marcos Vélez to be the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. (CBS News)
Paxton-backed Thomas Smith will be the Republican nominee for a seat on Republican Court of Criminal Appeals. (Texas Tribune)
Allison Bush won the Democratic primary runoff for the District 5 seat on the Texas State Board of Education. (Austin American-Statesman)
Bo French edged out incumbent Jim Wright in the Republican runoff for Railroad Commission. (The Hill)
4. 📸 Photo to go: Springtime in Austin
👋 Nicole here. I've been spoiled on my runs this month thanks to the our spring wildflowers around Austin.
- I highly recommend a jog or walk along the Violet Crown Trail as soon as possible.
Pro tip: Park at the Hampton Branch library and hop on the trail entrance to next to the building.
- There are tons of wildflowers if you keep following the trail toward Dick Nichols Park.
📬 Tell us: Where are your favorite spots to enjoy wildflowers this spring? Just reply to this email.
Thanks to Astrid Galván and Bob Gee for editing this newsletter.
🏖️ Asher returns today.
👀 Nicole has been craving a chocolate chip cookie from Abby Jane Bakeshop.
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