At the polls, Dallas County voters share divided thoughts on Cornyn, Paxton in GOP Senate runoff

From poll to poll in Tuesday’s runoff, voters were torn in the race between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton for the Republican Senate nomination, reflecting the turmoil at the top of the Texas GOP.

Paxton defeated Cornyn in the Republican primary, which became one of the nastiest state campaigns in years and shifted sharply in its final days after President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton. The attorney general will advance to face Democrat James Talarico in November.

Voters across Dallas County came to the polls to help decide the bitter contest. 

In University Park, Nancy Cates cast her ballot for Cornyn. Cates, 84, said Cornyn had represented Texas well during his more than 20-year tenure as “a good conservative senator.”

Cates’ support for the incumbent is also driven by her disapproval of corruption allegations against Paxton.

“I’m repulsed by him,” Cates said of Paxton.

At Fretz Park Branch Library in Far North Dallas, Jerry Bissey, 76, also cast a ballot for the incumbent.

The decision was tough for Bissey, who said he liked that Paxton’s policy positions were more conservative than Cornyn’s.

“He doesn’t side with Trump nearly enough,” Bissey said of Cornyn.

His choice ultimately came down to the corruption allegations against Paxton and the attorney general’s 2023 impeachment.

“I’m not real happy with this vote, but I just couldn’t overcome the ethics issue with Paxton,” Bissey said.

At the same polling place, Melanie Wright, 75, cast her ballot for Paxton and said she would have voted for him even if Trump hadn’t endorsed him. She views Cornyn, who has held the seat since 2002, as ineffectual.

“I was tired of John Cornyn,” Wright said. “He’s been living on his laurels a long time.”

Wright, a retired attorney, said she appreciated that Paxton has been an “aggressive” attorney general, filing lawsuits against big companies. She said that the corruption allegations that led to Paxton’s 2023 impeachment didn’t influence her vote because she said the candidate was “vindicated” when the Senate acquitted him. 

Wright’s support was also not affected by State Sen. Angela Paxton’s filing for divorce from the attorney general and accusing him of adultery. Cornyn’s campaign has highlighted the accusations in attack ads. 

“We’re not electing a preacher,” Wright said. 

At a Paxton watch party inside a Plano hotel Tuesday evening, Sheila Hernandez stood with her daughter-in-law near the stage where Paxton was expected to speak later in the night. Hernandez, dressed in an American flag button up, jeans, cowboy boots and other patriotic accessories, voted early for Paxton, who she praised as always being “wonderful in his position.”

“We need positive change,” Hernandez said. “We’re just not seeing much positivity right now in Texas and we’re hoping that change is coming with Paxton.”

At Irving City Hall Tuesday, John Callaway climbed the steps to vote, but made a few stops before the ballot box. First he had to hand out peppermint candies to his fellow voters and the election clerks working inside.

As a Republican, Callaway said he cast his vote with his nose plugged in the runoff for U.S. Senate.

“I chose the least narcissistic,” he said, while politely declining to name who got his vote.

Bryan Auston, 62, said his decisions weren’t exactly easy on Tuesday, either, but ultimately cast a ballot for Paxton. He said his priority was supporting candidates who are strongest on gun rights. He said he voted for Bo French for railroad commissioner for the same reason.

“If you don’t vote you don’t have an argument,” he said.

U.S. Army veteran Raymond Diaz voted in the Democratic primary but said at the polls Tuesday he was anxious to see who will win the GOP Senate race. He’s hoping Talarico can beat either one in November. 

“We need a change,” Diaz said.

Staff Writer Lana Ferguson contributed to this report.