U.S. Senator John Cornyn weaponizes biblical law against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a stunning attack ad that accuses the Trump-backed challenger of violating the very Ten Commandments he’s suing school districts to display.

Cornyn Turns Biblical Law Into Campaign Weapon

Senator John Cornyn released a dramatic television advertisement Wednesday that directly accuses Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of violating three of the Ten Commandments through alleged personal misconduct. The one-minute spot uses religious imagery and narration to charge Paxton with adultery through an alleged sexual affair and coverup, theft of a $1,000 Mont Blanc pen from a courthouse, and bearing false witness by fraudulently claiming multiple properties as primary residences to secure lower mortgage rates. The ad’s timing exploits Paxton’s aggressive enforcement of a 2025 Republican-backed state law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, creating a pointed contrast between Paxton’s public biblical stance and the allegations against him.

Scandal-Plagued Backgrounds Fuel Nasty Primary Battle

The 2026 Texas Republican Senate runoff pits incumbent Cornyn, 73, a fourth-term senator and former Texas Supreme Court justice, against Paxton, 62, a polarizing Trump loyalist with a troubled legal history. Paxton was indicted in 2015 for securities fraud (charges later dismissed), impeached in 2023 on bribery and corruption allegations (acquitted by the Texas Senate), and has become known for challenging 2020 election results and attending President Trump’s hush money trial. Cornyn faces his own challenges with the MAGA base after Trump criticized him over 2020 election claims and his support for a 2022 bipartisan gun safety bill, which earned him the label “RINO” from the former president.

The ad’s dramatic narration employs symbols of depravity including a burner phone and cash machine to underscore Paxton’s alleged moral failings. Cornyn’s campaign portrays Paxton as “comfortable with sin” while simultaneously enforcing biblical mandates on Texas schoolchildren, a messaging strategy designed to resonate with evangelical voters who value moral consistency. Paxton’s office has sued multiple school districts, including Leander ISD, Round Rock ISD, and Galveston ISD, for failing to comply with the Ten Commandments display law, lawsuits that now fuel the irony central to Cornyn’s attack. This represents a sharp escalation in what observers describe as an increasingly “ugly” primary battle between establishment Republican leadership and Trump-aligned insurgents.

Counter-Offensive Targets Trump for Endorsement

Pro-Paxton political action committee Preserving Texas launched its own counterattack with a $60,000 ad buy in Palm Beach, Florida, strategically airing on networks favored by President Trump including Fox, Newsmax, and the Golf Channel. The ads specifically target Cornyn’s 2022 bipartisan gun safety legislation, attempting to undermine his Second Amendment credentials and reinforce Trump’s previous “RINO” characterization. A Cornyn spokesperson fired back, calling Paxton “corrupt” and accusing him of “falsely lying about Senator Cornyn’s long career of strongly supporting Second Amendment Rights.” This underscores fundamental concerns for gun rights advocates who value consistency on constitutional protections over political opportunism.

Paxton has offered conditional withdrawal from the race if the SAVE America Act passes, legislation requiring proof of citizenship and photo identification for voting. This strategic positioning attempts to leverage Trump’s endorsement power while appearing to prioritize election integrity over personal ambition. Reports indicate Trump plans to endorse Cornyn and demand Paxton drop out, though no official action has materialized. The winner of this expensive, high-stakes runoff will face Democrat James Talarico in the general election, making GOP unity critical for maintaining the Texas Senate seat under conservative control.

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Sen. John Cornyn releases new ad portraying runoff rival Ken Paxton as a heretic

Pro-Paxton group targets Trump with anti-Cornyn ads in Palm Beach