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 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.

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Johnny Garcia easily defeated Maureen Galindo in the Democratic runoff for the redrawn 35th Congressional District, which includes parts of Bexar County.

Why it matters: Galindo's antisemitic comments during the campaign led to widespread disavowal by Democratic Party leaders.

The big picture: Democrats see the seat as competitive in November and viewed Garcia, a Bexar County sheriff's deputy, as the stronger candidate.

• Garcia was heavily backed by the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, but revelations about Galindo's remarks prompted other corners of the party to throw their support behind him as well.
• The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Democrats' campaign arm, took the unusual step of spending about $35,000 to run ads attacking Galindo in the final stretch of the race.

Zoom in: The race drew national attention earlier this month when Galindo made comments on social media slamming "Jews who own Hollywood" and the "Synagogue of Satan."

• Galindo later said she would introduce legislation to have "all American candidates and elected officials who have ever taken Israeli money tried for treason."

The intrigue: Galindo was backed by nearly $900,000 from a mysterious group called Lead Left PAC, which Democrats alleged was a GOP front aimed at propping up the weaker of the Democratic candidates.

What's next: Garcia is set to face Carlos De La Cruz, a veteran and small business owner who defeated state Rep. John Lujan in the GOP runoff — thanks in part to an endorsement from Trump.

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.

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Luz Elena Chapa narrowly defeated longtime prosecutor Jane Davis in the Democratic runoff for Bexar County district attorney. (SA Report)

🏫 Nearly 80% of students will return this fall to San Antonio ISD campuses that the district is turning over to a charter operator. (Express-News 🔑)

🤠 A historical New Braunfels building that once housed a souvenir shop is set to undergo a $100,000 renovation into a bar called Gruene Saloon. (MySA)

⚽︎ The U.S. World Cup roster unveiled yesterday features three Texans: midfielder Weston McKennie from the Dallas area, and striker Ricardo Pepi and winger Alejandro Zendejas from El Paso. (FOX4)

New public art sculptures downtown celebrate San Pedro Creek.

Zoom in: "Creatures of the Creek: A Fragile Balance" by Diana Kersey is a collection of clay sculptures of animals, like a giant anole lizard and the green kingfisher bird, found in and around the nearby San Pedro Creek.

• It was commissioned by the city.
• The work explores the intersection of nature and the urban environment. There's a spot to take selfies, and visitors are encouraged to sit on or lean against the art.
• One set of sculptures shows the creatures in geometric shapes like rectangles, while the other shows them in their full animal forms.

💭 Megan's thought bubble: As I've become involved in the local clay scene, I've come to really admire the time and depth that goes into sculptural clay work like Kersey's new pieces. Anything and everything can go wrong in creating such detailed and large-scale art.

• I've been following along on Kersey's Instagram, where the artist and her team have posted behind-the-scenes installation videos. It made me all the more excited to see the finished work.

If you go: Find the artwork at 406 W. Commerce St. alongside the downtown Goodwill.