Ken Paxton, Mayes Middleton Lead John Cornyn, Chip Roy in New Republican Primary Runoff…

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A new poll from the University of Houston (UH) indicates that in the heated Republican primary runoff election for U.S. Senate, incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) continues to trail Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, while state Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) holds a nine-point lead over U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX-21) as the two vie to become the GOP nominee for state attorney general. According to the poll, conducted between April 28 and May 1 of 1,200 likely Republican primary voters, 48 percent of respondents plan to vote for Paxton while 45 percent prefer Cornyn, and 7 percent are undecided. Paxton also touted a higher net favorability rating of 7 percent, compared to -2 percent for Cornyn. Of those who voted in the March 3 GOP primary for U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX-38), who did not make the runoff, Paxton leads Cornyn 54 percent to 35 percent. Poll respondents preferred Middleton over Roy by 48 percent to 39 percent, with 13 percent unsure. In the Republican runoff election to head the Texas Railroad Commission, incumbent Commissioner Jim Wright led with 35 percent over former Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Bo French’s 28 percent, but another 37 percent were undecided. Political analyst and professor Mark Jones, a director of the poll, told The Texan that down-ballot candidates are finding it more difficult to reach voters this year.

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