Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is surging ahead in the polls for the GOP Senate primary, outpacing establishment favorite Sen. John Cornyn and rising star Rep. Wesley Hunt by several points. This isn’t just a blip—it’s a seismic shift in the Lone Star State’s Republican landscape, where Paxton’s unapologetic battles against federal overreach have ignited grassroots fire. Fresh off surviving impeachment attempts from the swampy underbelly of Austin politics, Paxton’s lead signals voter exhaustion with Cornyn’s bipartisan dealmaking and Hunt’s relative newcomer status. In a field where turnout favors the fired-up base, Paxton’s populist punch is landing haymakers.

For the 2A community, this poll is a powder keg with real implications. Paxton, a steadfast defender who’s sued Biden’s ATF over pistol brace rules and ghost gun bans, embodies the no-compromise warrior gun owners crave. Cornyn, meanwhile, carries baggage from his role in the 2022 bipartisan gun control framework—think red-flag provisions and enhanced background checks that smelled like infringement to purists. Hunt talks tough on Second Amendment rights, but his profile lacks Paxton’s proven track record of courtroom victories shielding Texas from federal gun grabs. If Paxton clinches the nomination, expect a fiercer pushback against Harris-Biden era encroachments, from suppressor deregulation to national reciprocity. A Cornyn win? More of the same milquetoast moderation that leaves pro-gunners sidelined.

The ripple effects could reshape Senate dynamics come 2026, especially if Paxton flips the seat into a harder-line conservative stronghold. Texas 2A advocates are watching closely—this primary isn’t just about personalities; it’s a referendum on whether the GOP will double down on America First defiance or cozy up to D.C. compromise. With Paxton’s momentum, the smart money says the Alamo’s spirit is rising again, and gun rights stand to gain big if he storms the gates. Stay locked and loaded for updates as this race heats up.