First independent PAC forms to back Texas Attorney General’s run against Sen. John Cornyn

A new federal filing offers the latest suggestion U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is in for a pricy primary as he tries to remain in the office he’s held for the past 22 years.

The first independent political action committee, or PAC, supporting Cornyn’s primary challenger, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, this week registered with the Federal Election Commission, new documents show. PACs are tax-exempt groups that pool campaign contributions to fund political campaigns, and they have become a key fundraising fixture in high-profile races.

Recent polling shows Paxton, a headline-grabbing MAGA adherent, has an early lead in his challenge against Cornyn, often seen as a representative of the GOP’s pro-business old guard.

Even so, the incumbent ended 2024 with $4.1 million in campaign cash and has amassed powerful Washington allies. That means Paxton will need to raise lots of money, and raise it fast.

The newly formed Mesquite-based Patriots for Paxton PAC lists Carmen Roberts, a realtor active in politics in the DFW Metroplex suburb of Celina, as its treasurer. Roberts has donated to Paxton’s prior political campaigns, along with those of his wife, Texas Sen. Angela Paxton, and other Republicans, records show.

Frisco-based attorney Suresh Kumar, another frequent Republican donor, is listed as Patriots for Paxton’s custodian of record.

The website for the PAC listed on its FEC document, supportkenpaxton.com, didn’t appear to be live at press time.

The race is expected to be widely watched as one of 2026’s highest-profile showdowns between the Republicans’ burn-it-down Trump crowd, represented by Paxton, and its chamber of commerce wing.

Democrats are also eyeing the primary’s outcome, sensing that Paxton — a controversial figure known for his past legal scandals — could allow them their best opening in years to pick off a statewide seat in red Texas.

The Texas House impeached Paxton in 2023 on bribery and corruption charges, but he was later acquitted by the state Senate. Further, the AG waged a years-long battle against state securities fraud charges, which he finally resolved by agreeing to pay some $300,000 in restitution, complete community service and go through ethics training.

“The problem is nobody with the necessary gravitas seems to be willing to state the obvious: this is shaping up to be a fucking disaster,” a senior GOP Senate aide this week said to Axios about a possible Paxton win over Cornyn.

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This article appears in Jun 12-25, 2025.