# Cornyn vs. Paxton, TX AG Race & Nuclear Energy Push | USLege

> Sen. Cornyn warns a Paxton nomination risks GOP seats statewide, AG candidates clash over experience and loyalty, and Texas bets on small modular nuclear…

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# Cornyn vs. Paxton, TX AG Race & Nuclear Energy Push

Texas Political Highlights from the Week

Texas Political Spotlight February 20, 2026

This is the archive excerpt.

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![](/assets/news/f593b9a3e72c_699ccb302824716c11cc9a4c_USLege_News.png)

**Welcome back friends**

Sen. John Cornyn is closing his Republican Senate primary campaign by warning that a Ken Paxton nomination could jeopardize GOP success across Texas in November, while Paxton allies argue he is best positioned to energize conservative turnout in a race highlighting competing strategies for maintaining Republican dominance statewide. In the Republican contest for Texas attorney general, the four leading candidates largely agreed on core conservative policies but used a recent forum to intensify clashes over experience, political loyalty, and campaign credibility. Meanwhile, Texas is emerging as a national testing ground for small modular nuclear reactors, with state leaders and private companies betting the technology can meet surging electricity demand.

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> 🚨 Debate night is here! 🔥 Waiting for the RAGA Texas Attorney General debate to kick off, watch it live on Blaze Media at 7 PM CT.  
> This is one of the most important races in Texas right now. We need a strong, proven conservative fighter in the AG’s office more than ever to… [pic.twitter.com/GCoLghuyjI](https://t.co/GCoLghuyjI)
> 
> — Hillary Hickland (@HicklandHillary) [February 18, 2026](https://twitter.com/HicklandHillary/status/2023927826533994557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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> State policy work didn’t suddenly get harder.  
> It grew... decade by decade. 😳  
>   
> From biennial sessions to annual ones.  
> From paper binders to public video.  
> From being in one room to tracking everything at once.  
>   
> This carousel breaks down how we got here... AND why always-on… [pic.twitter.com/HsYsulm6lb](https://t.co/HsYsulm6lb)
> 
> — USLege (@USLege\_ai) [February 9, 2026](https://twitter.com/USLege_ai/status/2020935773592100994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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[Full issue](https://uslege.beehiiv.com/p/texas-political-spotlight-73b5) [Subscribe free](https://uslege.beehiiv.com/)

## More from _The Political Spotlight._

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