Morning Briefing — May 27, 2026

Texas Senate Runoff. Paxton has dominated Cornyn in the Texas U.S. Senate runoff election, signaling a continued hold for Trump on the GOP. Cornyn pledged to support the Republican Senate ticket in Texas after losing the runoff. This outcome opens a new front in the battle for the Senate, with some Republicans expressing worry about Ken Paxton as a Senate nominee.

Biden Sues DOJ. President Biden has filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department to block the release of audio and transcripts tied to a special counsel probe. The lawsuit aims to prevent the release of interview audio files from the Robert Hur DOJ investigation and tapes with a ghostwriter. Trump has criticized Biden over this action to hide the interview audio files.

South Carolina Redistricting. The South Carolina Senate has rejected Trump's call to redraw the congressional map for midterm elections. Lawmakers scrapped the Trump-backed redistricting plan, ensuring that Clyburn's district remains intact. This decision comes as factors shape the 2026 Midterm Elections.

Texas House and AG Runoffs. In other Texas primary runoffs, Mayes Middleton defeated Rep. Chip Roy for Texas attorney general. Additionally, Colin Allred won the Democratic primary for Texas' 33rd US House District, while Johnny Garcia won the Democratic primary for Texas' 35th US House District. Alex Mealer also secured the Republican primary runoff for US House 9th District.