Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has defeated longtime Senator John Cornyn in a closely watched Republican primary, delivering what many Second Amendment supporters see as a major political victory for gun rights advocates.

The race centered heavily around Cornyn’s support for the 2022 bipartisan federal gun control bill passed after the Supreme Court’s landmark Bruen decision. Critics argued the legislation expanded federal gun regulations without providing protections or concessions for lawful gun owners.

Supporters of Paxton and the MAGA movement framed the election as a referendum on Republican lawmakers who backed gun control measures. Several Republican senators who supported the 2022 bill have since retired, lost reelection bids, or announced plans to leave office.

Gun rights advocates believe the outcome signals growing pressure within the Republican Party to fully support Second Amendment protections and oppose future firearm restrictions. The race also highlighted the increasing influence of pro-gun voters in key GOP primaries nationwide.

With Paxton expected to advance to the U.S. Senate, many conservatives see the result as another sign that Second Amendment issues remain a powerful force in national politics heading into the next election cycle.