John Cornyn and Ken Paxton have been trading jabs as a potential primary showdown looms

After enduring this year’s brutal primary season, Texas Republicans are bracing for another bruising primary pitting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in 2026.

The two politicians, titans in Texas Republican politics, have been circling each other for more than a year, setting up a potential clash that would test the power of Paxton’s appeal to hard-right conservatives and Cornyn’s strength as a well-funded incumbent and prolific vote-getter.

A Paxton-Cornyn showdown would be the next step in a continuing power struggle within the GOP.

“If Paxton gets in, expect another real donnybrook in the primary,” said Republican political consultant Vinny Minchillo, who worked on the presidential campaigns of U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.

Minchillo said Texas politics is defined by a “three-party system,” with most of the action between conservatives with dueling agendas.

“We have the Democratic Party and we have the two halves of the Republican Party,” he said. “This would be the real throwdown between the two halves of the Republican Party.”

Cornyn and Paxton have strengths and weaknesses with Republican voters.

Paxton has cast Cornyn as not conservative enough to represent Texas in the Senate, and some conservative activists have criticized Cornyn’s efforts to find bipartisan solutions on issues like curbing gun violence and immigration reform.

Cornyn has cast Paxton as too shady to be a U.S. senator, an argument that could appeal to Republicans who worry about Paxton’s legal entanglements and past controversies, including his 2023 impeachment on charges of bribery and misuse of office.

The biggest wild card could involve the influence of President-elect Donald Trump, who endorsed Paxton in prior elections, criticized last year’s impeachment proceedings and praised Paxton as a patriot fighting “Radical Left Democrats.”

Paxton has had Trump’s back as well, filing legal briefs in support of Trump policies under attack by Democratic states during his first White House term and asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Trump defeats in four states in the 2020 election.

“You have to ask yourself, will Trump weigh in on this race?” Minchillo said.

Cornyn was a finalist to become Senate majority leader but lost by five votes to Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.

After his mid-November defeat, Cornyn said he would run for reelection in 2026.

“I think about somebody like Phil Gramm, who’s my predecessor, who, even though he wasn’t elected leadership, was always in the middle of some of the hardest issues that confronted the Congress and was a warrior,” Cornyn said. “And I think it’s a pretty good role model.”

Some Republicans say Cornyn is still examining how he’ll approach his political future. He’s taken a spiritual approach, one Republican said.

“I texted him that I was disappointed that his colleagues did not recognize the value of his experience and leadership and his integrity, and said I know God’s got a plan for you,” said Denton County Commissioner Dianne Edmondson, a Republican. “He sent me back and said, ‘Yes, I’m waiting for the signals on that now.’”

Paxton has said he’s considering challenging Cornyn in the 2026 primary, but Texas Republican Party Chairman Abraham George said he doesn’t expect to see a Cornyn-Paxton matchup.

“I doubt that’s what’s going to happen. I don’t think General Paxton is going to challenge John Cornyn,” George said. “That’s just my gut feeling.”

Paxton’s office did not respond to a telephone call and an email request for comment.

Mark Davis, a conservative radio talk show host based in Dallas, said Cornyn’s prospects for reelection revolve around how he handles Trump’s agenda and political appointments.

“If he is a good soldier, not an obstructionist, not an annoyance to the Trump agenda, then he’ll be very hard to beat, even by someone as popular as Ken Paxton,” Davis said.

“If Cornyn obstructs Trump’s nominees and then proceeds to do other things that reveal a certain distance between him and Trump, that will be all Paxton needs to be motivated to take him on. There’s still no guarantee that it’ll be successful, but it’ll be a battle of the titans that’ll show where we are in 2026,” he said.

Cornyn, first elected in 2002, is a former Texas Supreme Court justice and state attorney general.

Paxton, a former member of the Texas House and state Senate, has been attorney general since 2015. In 2023, Republican House members led an effort to impeach him. He was acquitted by the Senate after a high-profile trial.

In recent years, Cornyn has clashed with Paxton. He was one of the few statewide leaders to criticize Paxton amid allegations of corruption that led to the impeachment trial and has called the attorney general an embarrassment.

When Cornyn announced he would run to replace Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell as Republican leader of the Senate, Paxton lashed out in a post on X, saying, “Republicans deserve better in their next leader and Texans deserve another conservative senator.”

Paxton added that Cornyn would have a tough time being “an effective leader since he is anti-Trump, anti-gun, and will be focused on his highly competitive primary campaign in 2026.”

Cornyn replied: “Hard to run from prison, Ken.”

Asked in June about a potential Paxton challenge, Cornyn said: “I don’t know. I don’t stay awake at night worrying about it.”

Other Texas leaders appear to be expecting a Cornyn-Paxton showdown. At an election eve rally for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in Houston, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Paxton’s legal cases would not affect his political options.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ken Paxton join the Trump administration,” Patrick said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ken Paxton running for U.S. senator against John Cornyn.”

After the crowd cheered, Patrick said, “I like John.”

“He’s a nice man,” Patrick continued. “I’m saying Ken Paxton would be a really strong candidate for U.S. Senate.”

Cornyn has not faced a serious challenge in the GOP primaries, and in 2020 he received more votes than any non-judicial candidate in the history of Texas.

The 2026 primary could expose his Achilles’ heel.

At various points in his career, Cornyn has been booed at state GOP conventions, where the party’s most strident activists are the most vocal. In 2022, delegates at the Houston convention booed him because of his role in a bipartisan Senate compromise on gun safety. At this year’s convention, Cornyn didn’t address the general session but mingled with delegates at the convention center and dropped in on some caucus meetings.

Paxton, an incumbent statewide office holder and hero to grassroots Republicans for filing 100 lawsuits challenging Biden administration policies, would be a formidable challenger.

Still, he would have to overcome Cornyn’s stout fundraising machine. At the end of September the senator had $3.5 million in his campaign fund. He’s raised vast amounts for Republican candidates and incumbents – more than $400 million since 2002, according to his pitch to become Senate majority leader.

Paxton also has legal troubles. He has been under federal investigation after former staffers accused him of bribery and corruption. The state bar has brought an ethics lawsuit against Paxton, accusing him of lying when he told the Supreme Court that Texas had proof fraud undermined the 2020 election results in four swing states.

Three GOP office holders challenged Paxton in the 2022 primary, assuming he was politically damaged when eight top deputies accused the attorney general of accepting bribes to use his powerful office to help a friend and political donor.

Paxton emerged victorious, defeating U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman in the primary, and Land Commissioner George P. Bush in the runoff.

A key question will be if Trump gets involved in the contest. Paxton and Bush sought Trump’s support, which went to Paxton, who handily defeated the nephew of former President George W. Bush.

Paxton attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that preceded the Capitol riot and has stronger ties to Trump. In January 2024, Cornyn endorsed Trump for president well before he wrapped up the GOP nomination. Paxton also endorsed Trump.

“Cornyn has to decide whether he wants to be an important Senate figure in what is now undeniably Trump’s party,” said Davis, the conservative radio host. “Trump has never been Cornyn’s favorite flavor, and this may be an occasion where he looks at this and says, ‘I’ve had a great run. I’m going to go ahead and retire,’ and then let a host of people try to be his successor.”

Other names could surface before candidates begin filing for the 2026 primary elections next year.

If Cornyn, 72, changes his mind and retires, contenders for the open seat could include Paxton, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham and numerous Republican members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving.

Buckingham is considered by many Republicans as a rising star and part of the next crop of Republicans to move into higher office. Van Duyne, a former Irving mayor, served as a regional director of Housing and Urban Development under Trump. In 2016, she was the first big city mayor to endorse Trump’s candidacy.

“We’ll know soon how this all will play out,” Davis said. “Primary season isn’t far away.”

https://archive.is/RVkjW#selection-1895.0-1895.87

All those house seats that were stolen weeks after election day actually matters.

https://x.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1862363036922613994

UK votes to legalize assisted suicide

MPs have backed proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales in a historic vote which paves the way for a change in the law.

In the first Commons vote on the issue in nearly a decade, MPs supported a bill which would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to seek help to end their own life by 330 to 275, a majority of 55.

It followed an emotional debate in the chamber, where MPs from both sides shared personal stories which had informed their decisions.

The bill will now face many more months of debate and scrutiny by MPs and peers, who could choose to amend it, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament required before it becomes law.

Supporters gathered outside Parliament wept and hugged each other as the result was announced.

Campaign group Dignity in Dying said the vote was a "historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people".

Dame Esther Rantzen, one of the most high-profile campaigners for assisted dying, said she was "absolutely thrilled".

The broadcaster, who has terminal lung cancer, said any change in the law would probably come too late to affect her personally.

But she said "future generations will be spared the ordeals we have to suffer at the moment" if the bill becomes law.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who put forward the bill, told the BBC she was "a bit overwhelmed" following the vote and it meant "a huge amount" to be able to tell campaigners the bill had passed its first parliamentary hurdle.

However, Conservative Danny Kruger, a leading opponent of the bill, said it could be defeated at a later stage if MPs' concerns were not properly addressed.

He said many of his colleagues believed the bill was "very dangerous" and he hoped that if safeguards in the legislation were not strengthened they would choose to vote against it in the future.

MPs were given a free vote, meaning they could make a decision based on their own conscience rather than having to follow a party line.

A higher percentage of female MPs backed the bill compared to their male counterparts.

Of the 258 female MPs able to express their preference, 143 - or 55% - were in favour, while 188 (49%) of the 381 male MPs backed the bill.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Conservative predecessor Rishi Sunak voted in favour, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch voted against.

The PM, who previously supported a change in the law in 2015, did not speak in the debate or reveal how he planned to vote in advance, saying he did not want to influence the decisions of MPs.

The government has taken a neutral stance on the bill and has said it will work to ensure it is effective if Parliament backs a change in the law.

The vote followed more than four hours of passionate debate in a packed Commons chamber.

More than 160 MPs requested to speak but far fewer got an opportunity to do so due to time constraints.

Opening the debate, Leadbeater said the current law was "failing" and needed to change to give terminally ill people choice at the end of their life.

The MP for Spen Valley said too many people were experiencing "heartbreaking" suffering as a result of the "cruel reality" of the status quo.

She gave examples of terminally ill people who had died "screaming for assistance" or taken their own lives because they were in uncontrollable pain.

Opponents of the bill raised concerns that terminally ill people, particularly the elderly, disabled or vulnerable, could be pressurised into ending their own lives.

They also argued the focus should be on improving end-of-life care rather than introducing assisted dying.

Leadbeater insisted her bill included "the most robust and strongest set of safeguards and protections in the world", with strict eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for assisted dying under Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, someone must have the mental capacity to make a choice about ending their life and express a "clear, settled and informed" wish, free from coercion or pressure, at every stage of the process.

Two independent doctors and a High Court judge must be satisfied someone is eligible and has made their decision voluntarily.

However, Labour's Diane Abbott was among those who argued these safeguards were not sufficient.

The longest serving female MP said she feared the role of the judge could be only "a rubber stamp".

She told MPs some terminally ill people may also feel under pressure to end their lives as they don't "want to be a burden" or because of the cost of their care.

Cabinet ministers are divided over the issue, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood – the two ministers who would have overall responsibility for implementing any change in the law – voting against.

Overall 15 cabinet members, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, voted in favour, while eight voted against.

Current laws across the UK prevent people from asking for medical help to die.

A separate bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland, external has been proposed by a Liberal Democrat member of the Scottish Parliament and is expected to be voted on by MSPs next year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgzkp79npgo

JUST IN: Peanut the Squirrel's owners to sue the state of New York for executing Peanut and their pet raccoon, Fred.

Mark Longo says justice is coming and he is ready to take on the state of New York.

Longo and his partner Daniela Bittner filed a notice, stating their intention to make a claim against the government.

Longo and Bittner are accusing New York of unlawful search and seizure, violation of freedom of speech, and other violations.

They also say that their pets were legal companion animals and not wild animals like the government claimed.

They are also suing for emotional distress, violations of their constitutional rights, as well as lost wages.

https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1861809604507640265

New missile plan by US-Japan

WASHINGTON —

A U.S. plan to deploy sophisticated missiles on a Japanese island chain close to Taiwan is prompting angry responses from both China and its close ally Russia.

The United States is drawing up a joint military plan with Japan to deploy High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and other weapons to Japan’s Nansei Islands, according to a Sunday report by Kyodo News, which cited unnamed sources. The plan is expected to be completed by December.

The island chain stretches from Japan’s main islands to within 200 kilometers of Taiwan and includes Okinawa,which has a major U.S. military presence. The U.S. could use the missiles to defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion of the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as a renegade province.

The plan, the first joint operation by the U.S. and Japan to prepare for a war between Taiwan and China, will involve sending a U.S. Marine Corps regiment that possesses HIMARS and setting up temporary bases on the Nansei Islands to station them, said Kyodo. The Japan Self-Defense Forces would be expected to provide logistic support, including fuel and ammunition.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson criticized the reported plan at a press conference on Monday, saying, “China opposes relevant countries using the Taiwan question as an excuse to strengthen military deployment in the region, heighten tensions and confrontation, and disturb regional peace and stability.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded with a stronger statement, warning that her country would respond to the deployment with “necessary and proportionate steps” to strengthen its defense capabilities, according to the Russian news agency Tass on Wednesday.

“We have repeatedly warned the Japanese side that if, as a result of such cooperation, U.S. medium-range missiles emerge on its territory, this will pose a real threat to the security of our country,” Zakharova said.

Tass also quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov urging Washington to reconsider the deployment of missiles to the Asia-Pacific. He warned that Moscow will not rule out stationing shorter- and intermediate-range missiles in Asia in response to the U.S. deployment.

Earlier in November, Russian President Vladimir Putin said China is Russia’s ally and “Taiwan is part of China,” and that China conducting wargames near the island is “a completely reasonable policy” while Taipei is escalating tensions.

While Russia and China have no formal military treaty, Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have spoken of having a “no limits” partnership, and the United States accuses China of supporting Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken said at a press conference held at the G7 meeting in Italy on Tuesday that China’s support for Russia’s defense industry is “allowing Russia to continue the aggression against Ukraine.”

US-Japan missile plan

Despite Moscow’s alarming rhetoric, analysts say the deployment of HIMARS to the region is primarily aimed at protecting Taiwan from Chinese warships.

“The most important purpose of HIMARS” would be “an anti-ship capability” and to “protect the island and base itself,” said Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said last week at a forum held by the Brookings Institution that China this past summer conducted its largest rehearsal to date for an invasion of Taiwan involving 152 vessels. He cautioned that the U.S. “must be ready.”

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy possesses the world’s largest naval force with over 370 ships and submarines while the U.S. has about 290 vessels.

Eye on Chinese invasion

Timothy Heath, senior international defense researcher at the RAND Corp., said HIMARS on the Nansei islands “could help sink amphibious landing ships as well as destroyers and other PLA Navy ships that might approach the island from the north” and also “target concentrations of PLA troops on beaches near Taipei.”

Heath continued, “The fielding of these weapons systems shows that the U.S. and its allies are learning lessons from the Ukraine theater, where HIMARS have been effectively deployed against Russia.”

The U.S. is also planning to deploy the Multi-Domain Task Force’s (MDTS) long-range firing units to the Philippines, said Kyodo news on Sunday. The MDTS uses HIMARS as long-range firing units.

“The deployment of HIMARS to Nansei islands and long-range firing units to the Philippines will impose greater costs on China,” said Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, an associate professor at Tokyo International University Institute for International Strategy and a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative.

“Both locations are vital to deter China’s aggressive moves in not only the Taiwan Strait and East China Seas, but also Beijing’s ambitions in the Pacific. Still, one can expect China to do more to outdo such measures by enhancing their military readiness and conducting more assertive activities in the coming years,” he said.

Taiwan and the Philippines, as well as Japan and Indonesia, make up what China calls the first island chain potentially blocking its military access to the Pacific.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin concluded a nine-day trip to the Indo-Pacific on Monday after a series of meetings with the defense heads of countries in the region, including Japan, the Philippines, Australia and South Korea.

At the meetings, Japan agreed to increase its participation in annual trilateral amphibious training with the U.S. and Australia. The Philippines agreed to share military intelligence by signing a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with the U.S.

https://www.voanews.com/a/new-missile-plan-by-us-japan-eyes-chinese-invasion-of-taiwan-/7879818.html