Political Editor Savannah Witt
Published May 12, 2026
The Dallas Morning News published an editorial on May 11 titled "The vile unreality of Ken Paxton, John Cornyn, Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy" that accuses the four candidates of running campaigns built on distortions and personal attacks ahead of the May 26 Republican primary runoffs. The piece comes as voters prepare to decide the U.S. Senate matchup between incumbent John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton and the attorney general contest between state Sen. Mayes Middleton and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy. A University of Houston poll conducted April 28 to May 1 showed Paxton ahead of Cornyn 48 percent to 45 percent and Middleton ahead of Roy 48 percent to 39 percent.
Paxton and Cornyn trade attacks on guns and personal conduct
Paxton's ads claim Cornyn "joined Joe Biden to take away our gun rights" by supporting a bipartisan gun safety bill after the Uvalde shooting. The editorial calls the claim a misrepresentation. Cornyn's campaign responded with fake Facebook posts that mocked Paxton's alleged infidelity, including a Mother's Day message to his wife Angela Paxton that implied affairs. Both tactics drew sharp rebuke from the Dallas News for descending into personal cruelty.
Middleton and Roy distort records on transgender policy and Shariah law
Middleton's ads accuse Roy of siding with the "radical transgender lobby" by authoring an amendment that actually limited federal power over child transgender surgeries. Roy's campaign labeled Middleton "Mecca Mayes" and falsely claimed he sponsored legislation allowing "Sharia cities" in Texas, even though Middleton has opposed Shariah law. The editorial described these claims as baseless lies that distort the candidates' actual records.
Policy differences surface on data centers and energy costs
Amid the ad barrage, the candidates hold distinct views on AI data centers and gas prices that reached an average of $3.79 per gallon in late April. Paxton has pushed to make Texas the national leader in data centers and called for the removal of officials blocking projects. Cornyn has introduced federal legislation to advance defense-related AI infrastructure and data management. Middleton, an oil and gas executive, supports expanded energy production to meet data center demand and stabilize prices. Roy has questioned unchecked data center growth, warning they act as "massive sucks on power" and should not come before homes, hospitals and businesses.
| Candidate | AI Data Centers | Gas Prices (May 2026 context) |
|---|
| Ken Paxton | Supports making Texas No. 1 in data centers | Criticizes high costs, backs domestic energy |
| John Cornyn | Advances federal AI and defense data initiatives | Calls high prices a "small price to pay" for national security |
| Mayes Middleton | Favors energy expansion to power centers | Oil and gas background supports production to lower costs |
| Chip Roy | Questions power demands, prioritizes residents | Advocates energy policies to ease consumer burdens |
Early voting has already begun for the May 26 runoffs that will set the Republican nominees for both races.
