Disclosure: We endorsed Ken Paxton in this primary.
(Daily Signal)—The most contentious Senate contest of 2026 is shaping up to be between two Republicans.
Since Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared his run to unseat Sen. John Cornyn, who has represented the Lone Star State since 2002, the two candidates have hammered each other with attack ads that question each other’s character and MAGA bona fides.
Paxton started out his campaign accusing Cornyn, 73, of not being a genuine supporter of President Donald Trump.
“He doesn’t represent the values of Texas. He has taken positions that are extremely unpopular, at least in the Republican base, and I think many Texans, as it relates to guns, as it relates to the border, as it even relates to President Trump,” said Paxton, 62.
TEXAS AG AND SENATE CANDIDATE SLAMS SENATOR CORNYN FOR NOT REPRESENTING THE VALUES OF TEXAS AND IS LOYAL TO THE ESTABLISHMENT
Texas Attorney General and Candidate for U.S. Senate @KenPaxtonTX tells @MattGaetz that Senator Cornyn “doesn’t represent the values of Texas…he’s more… pic.twitter.com/a3y7e1UK3e
— One America News (@OANN) April 15, 2025
“And I feel like he’s more loyal to [former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.] and the Washington establishment than he is to the Texas voters.”
In 2023, in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Cornyn told an interviewer that the Republican Party should move on from Trump.
“Well, you know, in politics, unless you can win an election, you’re pretty much irrelevant,” Cornyn told the interviewer. “And I just think it’s critical that, given the direction of the country now into the Biden administration, that Republicans nominate somebody who can win a general election.”
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In the wake of Cornyn’s announcement of his run for a fifth six-year term, a Cornyn campaign account on X called the state attorney general a “fraud” and said that he “claims to be a man of faith, but uses fake Uber accounts to meet his girlfriend and deceive his family.”
The attacks have not ceased. Cornyn’s team has gone on the offensive, accusing Paxton of being “corrupt” in a recent ad.
Paxton has faced his share of legal troubles. The Texas attorney general was acquitted of 16 impeachment articles in September 2023, most of which were related to allegations that he had done favors for a political donor.
Now, Cornyn is trying to position himself as the true voice of law and order in Texas.
One of Cornyn’s newest attack ads accuses Paxton of being “too corrupt and compromised” to shut down the East Plano Islamic Center—a 402-acre Texas residential development designed for Muslims—which Cornyn says “is designed to be a safe haven for Shariah law.”
Cornyn has penned a letter to the Justice Department requesting that it investigate the Islamic center for potential discrimination against Christians and Jews.
Much of this ruthless campaign is likely to come down to who can convince Texas Republican primary voters that they best represent Trump’s agenda.
For years, John Cornyn has betrayed President Trump and the America First movement. Texas deserves better, and that’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate.
Join me in the fight: https://t.co/rQl0P2UnWU pic.twitter.com/WP1g8vbXi0
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) April 9, 2025
Paxton has repeatedly aired ads highlighting Cornyn’s past criticisms of Trump, while Cornyn has touted his record of supporting Trump-backed legislation in the past.
It’s likely to be a tough race. Paxton reportedly decided to run against Cornyn after internal polling showed him with a lead of over 20 points over the incumbent senator.
Paxton’s run also received encouraging signals when a February University of Houston poll of Republicans showed that 36% of past and future Republican primary voters “definitely would consider” voting for him, compared to 32% for Cornyn.
According to Ballotpedia, the date of the 2026 Texas Republican primary has not yet been set.
Jacob Adams contributed to this report.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
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Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
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In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.