John Cornyn

Groups backing Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in the race for the Republican Senate nomination have outspent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's allies by $69 million to $4 million as both candidates flood the airwaves with negative ads, the Texas Tribune reported.

Cornyn, who finished first in the primary but fell short of a majority, forcing a May 26 runoff against Paxton, has faced escalating attacks over corruption allegations, ethics, infidelity and loyalty to President Donald Trump.

Cornyn has attacked Paxton's personal record, including his previous impeachment and handling of child sex abuse cases.

"Senator Cornyn has said that character is on the ballot in this runoff and we are educating Texas GOP voters about Ken Paxton's mismanagement of his office, his personal enrichment, his indefensible behavior and his disqualifying judgment in child sex abuse cases," Cornyn campaign senior adviser Matt Mackowiak said in a statement.

"Ken Paxton has no one to blame but himself."

Paxton, meanwhile, has attacked Cornyn for his role in passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, arguing the law infringes on Second Amendment rights. He also has criticized Cornyn’s past comments about Trump.

"After 42 years in office, can you name a single thing career politician John Cornyn has done for you?" one Paxton campaign ad asks while showing Cornyn alongside former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrat leaders.

"Not one, unless you're a Democrat. Trump's right: Cornyn is 'weak, ineffective and very bad for the Republican Party.'"

Trump has not endorsed either candidate.

"We were never going to be at dollar-for-dollar parity against the Washington, D.C. establishment and someone like John Cornyn, who's got so many industries and corporations in his back pocket," said Gregg Keller, a spokesperson for the pro-Paxton Lone Star Liberty PAC.

"But the fact that we've been able to close the gap by such a huge margin — I think you're going to see the results of that on election night."