U.S. Sen. John Cornyn runs ads targeting Ken Paxton over questionable campaign contributions

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, wasted no time in trolling the shit out of his primary rival, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, over a letter federal regulators sent Paxton’s Senate campaign demanding that it explain $658,000 in potentially illegal contributions.

The Current was the first to report the Federal Election Commission contacted Paxton’s campaign Sunday, ordering its treasurer to refund or explain roughly 100 second-quarter donations that exceed federally allowed limits.

By Wednesday, Cornyn’s campaign was already running a 35-second online ad alleging the FEC inquiry is only the latest ethical breach by Paxton.

“Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign just got busted,” the ad states, showing an image of the Current’s report. “More than 100 potential illegal donations worth $658,000 allotted for the primary.”

The clip goes on to allege Paxton violated campaign finance rules during his 2022 run for attorney general by failing to disclose some $2 million in donations on time. Interestingly, it doesn’t mention the MAGA-adherent AG’s impeachment trial in the Texas Legislature or his agreement to settle a years-old state securities fraud charge.

“From the state having to pay settlements to whistleblowers speaking out against Ken Paxton, failing to report income, to these latest campaign finance violations, it’s clear that Texas cannot trust Ken Paxton,” the spot continues before urging viewers to visit crookedken.com, a website funded by Texans for Senator John Cornyn Inc. that purports to chronicle Paxton’s legal woes. 

Also on Wednesday, Paxton’s campaign treasurer sent the FEC a letter agreeing to take corrective action within 60 days on each of the flagged donations, “including refunds, redesignations, and reattributions,” so it can comply with federal campaign law.

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This article appears in Aug 7-20, 2025.