As Paxton and Cornyn’s terms come to an end in 2026, the Texas attorney general is leaving the door open to primary the senator to represent a rift within the Republican Party. Paxton was in Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday night at Turning Point USA’s America Fest event, where an attendee asked him when he would challenge Cornyn, which prompted applause.

“What if I say this, not yet?” Paxton said. “I am praying about it. We are looking at that. I’m talking to a lot of people in Texas over the next couple months. Ask me that question a couple months and I may — I’ll have a different answer.”

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TRUMP’S TARIFF THREAT AGAINST MEXICO AND CANADA

The attorney general performed his first informal poll at the event and asked the crowd if they would want him to run, which was met with applause. Paxton said the response was “very encouraging.”

Cornyn is fresh from his loss for Senate Majority Leader. Meanwhile, Paxton survived impeachment last year. While the Republican-run Texas House voted to impeach the attorney general, by September of last year the Senate acquitted Paxton of all 20 impeachment articles. At the time, he was represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, who took to X to campaign against Cornyn for leader.

“A hard ‘NO’ to Cornyn as Senate Majority Leader. Spread the word,” Buzbee wrote.

TRUMP TO GIVE WOMEN A BIGGER SEAT AT THE TABLE IN SECOND TERM

In February, Paxton suggested “Texans deserve another conservative Senator.” Cornyn responded by mocking Paxton’s legal troubles at the time, writing, “Hard to run from prison, Ken.” The very next day Paxton ran a poll on X asking his 436,000 followers whether Cornyn was “conservative enough to lead Republicans in the Senate.” Over 96% responded, “no.”

The senator has dismissed rumors that Paxton would challenge him in a primary and asserted he sleeps “very well at night” despite Paxton’s prospects. Cornyn has won the Republican vote by over 59% in all four of his primary elections.