Donors Pour Millions to Shield John Cornyn From Ken Paxton

Allies of Senator John Cornyn have spent about $50 million on advertising since last July as he faces a tough Republican primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton in a three-way race that is widely expected to go to a runoff. Mr. Paxton has done little advertising; his main super PAC has spent less than 1 percent of the amount spent by Mr.

Cornyn’s backers, roughly $375,000, while Representative Wesley Hunt’s entry has complicated donors’ calculations and made a runoff in late May likely. Establishment Republicans and donor groups have pushed to stop Mr. Paxton, citing his record and legal troubles, and some donors are debating whether to conserve resources or cut bait.

Mr. Cornyn’s outside groups have heavily dominated the airwaves, with his main super PAC spending about $17 million, financed by donors including Stephen A. Schwarzman and Harlan Crow, and roughly $29 million in additional spending from undisclosed donors through nonprofit groups linked to former Gov.

john cornyn, ken paxton, wesley hunt, allies of john cornyn, super pac, stephen a. schwarzman, harlan crow, nonprofit groups, 50 million dollars, 17 million dollars