Comparing Views of John Cornyn and Ken Paxton in Texas with 2026 on the Horizon
Texas Senator John Cornyn officially announced his re-election intentions this week in a race that is expected to include a vigorous primary contest in 2026. Not coincidentally, Cornyn has been working to smooth over fissures with a state party that has openly expressed frustrations with the senior senator, first over the passage of a gun safety bill he shepherded through the U.S. Senate in the wake of the Sutherland Springs shooting ; and second, over Cornyn's outright criticisms of Texas' Attorney General Ken Paxton -- with the feud ongoing . The latter is understood to be considering a challenge to Cornyn in 2026 , which begs for a comparison of the two politicians and voters' views of them in Texas -- and in particular, the views of the committed Republican and conservative voters who will likely continue holding significant influence over the outcome of the 2026 primaries.
More information about either Senator Cornyn or Attorney General Paxton can be found in the polling search tool.
Recent Election Results
Recent General and Primary Election Results of Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton
Election Year Candidate General Percent General Votes Margin (R-D) Primary Percent Primary Votes Challengers
2022 Ken Paxton 53.4%
4,278,986
781,719
68%
633,223
1
2020 John Cornyn 53.5%
5,962,983
1,074,219
76%
1,470,669
4
2018 Ken Paxton 50.6%
4,193,207
295,109
100%
N/A
0
2014 John Cornyn 61.6%
2,861,531
1,264,144
59.40%
781,259
7
2014 Ken Paxton 58.8%
2,742,646
969,538
44.50%
569,034
2
Source: Ballotpedia, accessed April 2, 2025.
Overall Job Approval Trends
John Cornyn Job Approval Trend Line chart with 3 lines.
View as data table, John Cornyn Job Approval Trend
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 22 to 50.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 27% 27%27% 27%24% 24%28% 28%30% 30%28% 28%28% 28%29% 29%27% 27%39% 39%36% 36%37% 37%35% 35%36% 36%38% 38%36% 36%39% 39%32% 32%33% 33%31% 31%34% 34%28% 28%29% 29%31% 31%32% 32%24% 24%29% 29%32% 32%35% 35%30% 30%33% 33%33% 33%28% 28%30% 30%28% 28%34% 34%36% 36%32% 32%32% 32%32% 32%34% 34%30% 30%27% 27%34% 34%32% 32%35% 35%36% 36%34% 34%41% 41%42% 42%38% 38%38% 38%34% 34%35% 35%34% 34%34% 34%39% 39%36% 36%40% 40%39% 39%42% 42%42% 42%43% 43%41% 41%44% 44%44% 44%35% 35%39% 39%50% 50%42% 42%42% 42%40% 40%43% 43%38% 38%39% 39%42% 42%39% 39%42% 42%39% 39%38% 38%38% 38%36% 36%33% 33%33% 33%37% 37%41% 41%38% 38%41% 41%41% 41%37% 37%36% 36%30% 30%30% 30%33% 33%34% 34%28% 28%29% 29%29% 29%31% 31%25% 25%26% 26%24% 24%22% 22%26% 26%25% 25%25% 25%24% 24%27% 27%27% 27%34% 34%29% 29%26% 26%29% 29%27% 27%25% 25%27% 27%29% 29%28% 28%30% 30%30% 30%29% 29%28% 28%28% 28%31% 31%32% 32%35% 35%34% 34%33% 33%32% 32%Approve Disapprove Neither/Don't know Oct. 2015 Feb. 2016 June 2016 Oct. 2016 Feb. 2017 June 2017 Oct. 2017 Feb. 2018 June 2018 Oct. 2018 Feb. 2019 June 2019 Oct. 2019 Feb. 2020 Apr. 2020 June 2020 Oct. 2020 Feb. 2021 Mar. 2021 Apr. 2021 June 2021 Aug. 2021 Oct. 2021 Feb. 2022 Apr. 2022 June 2022 Aug. 2022 Oct. 2022 Dec. 2022 Feb. 2023 Apr. 2023 June 2023 Aug. 2023 Oct. 2023 Dec. 2023 Feb. 2024 Apr. 2024 June 2024 Aug. 2024 Oct. 2024 Dec. 2024 Feb. 2025 Apr. 2025 20 30 40 50 60 University of Texas / Texas Politics Project affiliated polling John Cornyn Job Approval Trend End of interactive chart.
Ken Paxton Job Approval Trend Line chart with 3 lines.
View as data table, Ken Paxton Job Approval Trend
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 16 to 46.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 32% 32%33% 33%35% 35%35% 35%32% 32%34% 34%34% 34%37% 37%36% 36%41% 41%35% 35%39% 39%30% 30%27% 27%33% 33%35% 35%41% 41%41% 41%36% 36%33% 33%36% 36%40% 40%37% 37%33% 33%36% 36%36% 36%38% 38%37% 37%35% 35%36% 36%39% 39%38% 38%39% 39%37% 37%38% 38%35% 35%41% 41%46% 46%42% 42%38% 38%37% 37%35% 35%38% 38%38% 38%36% 36%30% 30%34% 34%38% 38%16% 16%19% 19%28% 28%28% 28%33% 33%30% 30%27% 27%25% 25%26% 26%21% 21%26% 26%26% 26%28% 28%28% 28%25% 25%26% 26%22% 22%24% 24%25% 25%28% 28%28% 28%30% 30%29% 29%29% 29%Approve Disapprove Neither/Don't know Apr. 2021 June 2021 Aug. 2021 Oct. 2021 Feb. 2022 Apr. 2022 June 2022 Aug. 2022 Oct. 2022 Dec. 2022 Feb. 2023 Apr. 2023 June 2023 Aug. 2023 Oct. 2023 Dec. 2023 Feb. 2024 Apr. 2024 June 2024 Aug. 2024 Oct. 2024 Dec. 2024 Feb. 2025 Apr. 2025 10 20 30 40 50 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Polling. Ken Paxton Job Approval Trend End of interactive chart.
Job Approval Trends Among Republicans
John Cornyn Job Approval Trend Line chart with 3 lines.
Among Republicans
View as data table, John Cornyn Job Approval Trend
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 8 to 71.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu Among Republicans 43% 43%45% 45%41% 41%44% 44%52% 52%51% 51%46% 46%50% 50%46% 46%70% 70%62% 62%63% 63%61% 61%66% 66%66% 66%65% 65%71% 71%56% 56%57% 57%57% 57%60% 60%51% 51%54% 54%54% 54%53% 53%41% 41%48% 48%55% 55%58% 58%48% 48%50% 50%51% 51%46% 46%43% 43%43% 43%45% 45%51% 51%46% 46%49% 49%48% 48%44% 44%49% 49%44% 44%24% 24%20% 20%21% 21%19% 19%13% 13%21% 21%23% 23%18% 18%18% 18%8% 8%14% 14%12% 12%12% 12%10% 10%12% 12%15% 15%11% 11%18% 18%20% 20%18% 18%17% 17%21% 21%21% 21%16% 16%17% 17%34% 34%27% 27%22% 22%22% 22%26% 26%26% 26%24% 24%27% 27%26% 26%27% 27%26% 26%21% 21%24% 24%20% 20%18% 18%24% 24%21% 21%26% 26%32% 32%34% 34%39% 39%36% 36%36% 36%27% 27%31% 31%32% 32%35% 35%21% 21%25% 25%26% 26%28% 28%23% 23%22% 22%20% 20%18% 18%24% 24%23% 23%25% 25%24% 24%27% 27%24% 24%30% 30%30% 30%25% 25%25% 25%23% 23%20% 20%25% 25%24% 24%24% 24%27% 27%31% 31%31% 31%30% 30%28% 28%29% 29%31% 31%35% 35%32% 32%30% 30%29% 29%Approve Disapprove Neither/Don't know Oct. 2015 Feb. 2016 June 2016 Oct. 2016 Feb. 2017 June 2017 Oct. 2017 Feb. 2018 June 2018 Oct. 2018 Feb. 2019 June 2019 Oct. 2019 Feb. 2020 Apr. 2020 June 2020 Oct. 2020 Feb. 2021 Mar. 2021 Apr. 2021 June 2021 Aug. 2021 Oct. 2021 Feb. 2022 Apr. 2022 June 2022 Aug. 2022 Oct. 2022 Dec. 2022 Feb. 2023 Apr. 2023 June 2023 Aug. 2023 Oct. 2023 Dec. 2023 Feb. 2024 Apr. 2024 June 2024 Aug. 2024 Oct. 2024 Dec. 2024 Feb. 2025 Apr. 2025 0 25 50 75 University of Texas / Texas Politics Project affiliated polling John Cornyn Job Approval Trend End of interactive chart.
Ken Paxton Job Approval Trend Line chart with 3 lines.
Among Republicans.
View as data table, Ken Paxton Job Approval Trend
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 7 to 73.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu Among Republicans. 59% 59%58% 58%61% 61%65% 65%55% 55%62% 62%60% 60%66% 66%65% 65%73% 73%65% 65%65% 65%51% 51%46% 46%50% 50%58% 58%61% 61%61% 61%58% 58%54% 54%57% 57%60% 60%62% 62%60% 60%11% 11%10% 10%11% 11%12% 12%13% 13%8% 8%15% 15%13% 13%12% 12%7% 7%9% 9%13% 13%19% 19%23% 23%20% 20%15% 15%16% 16%14% 14%14% 14%13% 13%13% 13%11% 11%11% 11%13% 13%16% 16%22% 22%28% 28%23% 23%31% 31%30% 30%25% 25%22% 22%24% 24%19% 19%27% 27%23% 23%30% 30%31% 31%30% 30%28% 28%23% 23%25% 25%27% 27%32% 32%31% 31%29% 29%28% 28%29% 29%Approve Disapprove Neither/Don't know Apr. 2021 June 2021 Aug. 2021 Oct. 2021 Feb. 2022 Apr. 2022 June 2022 Aug. 2022 Oct. 2022 Dec. 2022 Feb. 2023 Apr. 2023 June 2023 Aug. 2023 Oct. 2023 Dec. 2023 Feb. 2024 Apr. 2024 June 2024 Aug. 2024 Oct. 2024 Dec. 2024 Feb. 2025 Apr. 2025 0 20 40 60 80 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Polling. Ken Paxton Job Approval Trend End of interactive chart.
Recent Polling Among Key Primary Groups
John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, John Cornyn Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 1 to 33.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 1% 1%10% 10%18% 18%16% 16%45% 45%10% 10%1% 1%10% 10%33% 33%15% 15%19% 19%22% 22%17% 17%32% 32%23% 23%12% 12%9% 9%7% 7%Democrat Independent Republican Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 10 20 30 40 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 4 to 35.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 1% 1%8% 8%15% 15%9% 9%58% 58%8% 8%8% 8%14% 14%22% 22%9% 9%24% 24%24% 24%27% 27%35% 35%21% 21%7% 7%4% 4%7% 7%Democrat Independent Republican Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 20 40 10 30 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, John Cornyn Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 4 to 34.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 7% 7%24% 24%33% 33%23% 23%9% 9%4% 4%7% 7%33% 33%21% 21%11% 11%8% 8%19% 19%23% 23%34% 34%20% 20%9% 9%9% 9%4% 4%Lean Republican Not very strong Republican Strong Republican Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 10 20 30 40 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 1 to 39.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 34% 34%25% 25%21% 21%8% 8%7% 7%4% 4%5% 5%31% 31%26% 26%13% 13%7% 7%17% 17%33% 33%39% 39%19% 19%4% 4%1% 1%5% 5%Lean Republican Not very strong Republican Strong Republican Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 10 20 30 40 50 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, John Cornyn Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 8 to 30.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 3% 3%10% 10%15% 15%13% 13%50% 50%10% 10%5% 5%18% 18%35% 35%13% 13%13% 13%16% 16%15% 15%30% 30%21% 21%14% 14%12% 12%8% 8%Liberals Moderates Conservatives Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 20 40 60 10 30 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 6 to 33.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 1% 1%10% 10%14% 14%6% 6%59% 59%9% 9%5% 5%14% 14%28% 28%12% 12%24% 24%17% 17%29% 29%33% 33%18% 18%6% 6%6% 6%8% 8%Liberals Moderates Conservatives Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 20 40 60 80 10 30 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, John Cornyn Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 3 to 34.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 7% 7%28% 28%27% 27%18% 18%13% 13%7% 7%14% 14%34% 34%20% 20%11% 11%9% 9%11% 11%21% 21%26% 26%19% 19%16% 16%14% 14%3% 3%Lean conservative Somewhat conservative Extremely conservative Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 10 20 30 40 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 2 to 46.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 7% 7%28% 28%32% 32%10% 10%16% 16%8% 8%24% 24%38% 38%15% 15%7% 7%5% 5%12% 12%46% 46%30% 30%16% 16%4% 4%2% 2%3% 3%Lean conservative Somewhat conservative Extremely conservative Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 10 20 30 40 50 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, John Cornyn Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 8 to 26.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 8% 8%23% 23%23% 23%13% 13%21% 21%12% 12%8% 8%21% 21%24% 24%12% 12%26% 26%8% 8%13% 13%17% 17%17% 17%18% 18%21% 21%15% 15%Urban Suburban Rural Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 10 20 30 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 3 data series.
View as data table, Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 6 to 30.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 10% 10%23% 23%24% 24%6% 6%26% 26%10% 10%14% 14%20% 20%18% 18%9% 9%30% 30%8% 8%25% 25%22% 22%12% 12%7% 7%17% 17%16% 16%Urban Suburban Rural Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 10 20 30 40 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 4 data series.
View as data table, John Cornyn Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 1 to 46.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 13% 13%26% 26%29% 29%13% 13%11% 11%8% 8%9% 9%23% 23%19% 19%13% 13%25% 25%10% 10%3% 3%11% 11%13% 13%15% 15%46% 46%11% 11%1% 1%12% 12%29% 29%12% 12%21% 21%25% 25%The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word. The Bible is the word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally, word for word. The Bible is a book written by men and is not the word of God. Don't know. Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 20 40 60 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll John Cornyn Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) Bar chart with 4 data series.
View as data table, Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025)
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Percentage. Data ranges from 6 to 61.
Created with Highcharts 11.4.0 Percentage Chart context menu 22% 22%30% 30%24% 24%6% 6%10% 10%9% 9%13% 13%22% 22%18% 18%10% 10%27% 27%11% 11%7% 7%7% 7%11% 11%7% 7%61% 61%7% 7%7% 7%17% 17%25% 25%10% 10%16% 16%26% 26%The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word. The Bible is the word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally, word for word. The Bible is a book written by men and is not the word of God. Don't know. Approve strongly Approve somewhat Neither approve nor disapprove Disapprove somewhat Disapprove strongly Don't know 0 25 50 75 February 2025 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll Ken Paxton Approval (February 2025) End of interactive chart.
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