Cornyn Loses to Paxton in Texas GOP Primary Runoff

Longtime Texas Senator John Cornyn has signaled his political career is entering a new phase following a decisive primary defeat, sharing cryptic literary references widely interpreted as commentary on his loss. Cornyn was defeated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff by a 28-point margin.

In a series of social media posts on Friday, Cornyn shared the fable of the scorpion and the frog, in which a scorpion fatally stings a frog carrying it across a river, dooming them both. The scorpion explains its action by saying, “I couldn’t help myself. It’s my character.” Cornyn called the story an “old, but apt fable” but did not elaborate on its meaning. When asked for comment, he said it was “just a discussion starter.”

The posts came days after Cornyn, in a concession speech, pledged to support the Republican ticket in the general election, despite having spent years criticizing Paxton. The primary contest was notably contentious, with Paxton and his allies portraying the incumbent senator as out of step with the party’s populist wing and too aligned with the Washington establishment. Cornyn faced criticism from conservatives for his role in...