- The Washington Times - Thursday, September 21, 2023

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he might try to oust John Cornyn from the Senate in 2026.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson on X Wednesday, Mr. Paxton suggested Texas needs a new senator.

“Everything’s on the table for me,” he said when Mr. Carlson asked if he would run. “I think it’s time somebody needs to step up and run against this guy that will do the job and do it the right way and represent us and worry about what’s going on.”

He said Mr. Cornyn — who has been in office since 2002 — has been “in Washington too long.”

“And I can’t think of a single thing he’s accomplished for our state or even for the country,” he added.

Mr. Cornyn did not immediately respond for comment.

The two have a long-standing rivalry, with Mr. Cornyn saying Mr. Paxton’s legal battles are an “embarrassment,” making the comment last May when the attorney general was running for a third term.

Paxton has faced an FBI investigation into allegations that he abused his office to help a wealthy donor, a fraud indictment, a lawsuit surrounding the 2020 election results and accusations of cheating on his wife. All of which Mr. Paxton has denied.

In May, Mr. Paxton experienced the most damning blow to his career when the Texas House voted to remove him from office over allegations he accepted bribes and misused his office. But on Saturday, the Texas Senate voted to acquit him, letting him return to his post after his suspension.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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