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Texas GOP voters oust Cornyn in Paxton upset

Cornyn's loss marks one of the most significant defeats for a Republican senator in years.

Politics & Policy

Republican primary voters on Tuesday rejected U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, one of the Senate&#x27;s most senior GOP members, in favor of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump-backed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/19/trump-endorsement-texas-senate-race-ken-paxton" data-vars-content-id="319ecb20-8e5a-415d-9d5a-b2a8fc1d11fc" data-vars-headline="Texas GOP voters oust Cornyn in Paxton upset" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/19/trump-endorsement-texas-senate-race-ken-paxton" target="_self">Trump-backed</a> Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.Why it matters: Cornyn&#x27;s loss marks one of the most significant defeats for a Republican senator in years and underscores how loyalty to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="319ecb20-8e5a-415d-9d5a-b2a8fc1d11fc" data-vars-headline="Texas GOP voters oust Cornyn in Paxton upset" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">President Trump</a> continues to reshape GOP primaries nationwide.

How the Talarico-Paxton race could play out

Talarico links the affordability crisis with corruption, while Paxton frames the Democrat as out of touch.

With Ken Paxton&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="GOP primary win" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/27/texas-senate-gop-cornyn-paxton" data-vars-content-id="f1d8eded-ce80-478f-a801-449ff75d69a2" data-vars-headline="How the Talarico-Paxton race could play out" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/27/texas-senate-gop-cornyn-paxton" target="_self">GOP primary win</a> this week, Democrats now have the Republican Senate candidate, tactically speaking, they were hoping for.<ul><li>Now the question is whether their nominee, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Talarico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/27/texas-senate-gop-cornyn-paxton" data-vars-content-id="f1d8eded-ce80-478f-a801-449ff75d69a2" data-vars-headline="How the Talarico-Paxton race could play out" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/27/texas-senate-gop-cornyn-paxton" target="_self">James Talarico</a>, a young state lawmaker from Austin, can deliver them out of the wilderness.</li></ul>

Middleton defeats Roy in Texas AG race

Middleton successfully cast himself as the MAGA candidate, even as President Trump didn't endorse in the race.

Politics

State Sen. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mayes Middleton" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/18/texas-attorney-general-may-runoff" data-vars-content-id="742ac211-8db8-41c8-b685-203a2d2ed8d7" data-vars-headline="Middleton defeats Roy in Texas AG race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/05/18/texas-attorney-general-may-runoff" target="_self">Mayes Middleton</a> of Galveston defeated U.S. Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chip Roy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/08/chip-roy-texas-attorney-general-paxton-cornyn" data-vars-content-id="742ac211-8db8-41c8-b685-203a2d2ed8d7" data-vars-headline="Middleton defeats Roy in Texas AG race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/08/chip-roy-texas-attorney-general-paxton-cornyn" target="_self">Chip Roy</a> in the GOP runoff for Texas attorney general Tuesday night.Why it matters: Middleton successfully cast himself as the MAGA candidate, even as President Trump didn&#x27;t endorse in the race.

Austin City Council to consider rules for e-motos

In Austin, there is no local code governing where e-motos can operate.

News

The Austin City Council on Thursday will consider taking an initial step toward regulating electric dirt bikes and mini motorcyles, or e-motos.Why it matters: A growing number of children and teens are riding the high-powered bikes on Austin streets, alarming residents and prompting safety concerns from local officials.

New York coffee shop to open in ATX Tower

Black Fox has positioned Austin as its Texas flagship.

New York City-based coffee roaster Black Fox Coffee will open its first Texas location Friday in Austin&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ATX Tower" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/03/15/anatomy-austin-skyscraper-321-west?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_austin&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="ea2d1368-cbc1-4d22-9e29-dd9e6ac0de2c" data-vars-headline="New York coffee shop to open in ATX Tower" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/03/15/anatomy-austin-skyscraper-321-west?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_austin&amp;stream=top" target="_self">ATX Tower</a>.Why it matters: The opening comes as the city&#x27;s coffee scene continues to gain national attention, with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Food &amp; Wine" data-vars-click-url="https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-cities-for-coffee-in-2026-11930933" data-vars-content-id="ea2d1368-cbc1-4d22-9e29-dd9e6ac0de2c" data-vars-headline="New York coffee shop to open in ATX Tower" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.foodandwine.com/top-united-states-cities-for-coffee-in-2026-11930933" target="_blank">Food &amp; Wine</a> recently naming Austin the top coffee city in the U.S.

Desert Island Dish with Austin pitmaster Evan LeRoy

We caught up with LeRoy ahead of the cookbook's release for our Desert Island Dish series.

Pitmaster Evan LeRoy wants to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="give you his secrets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/11/12/michelin-guide-texas-austin-restaurant-winners" data-vars-content-id="51da4411-1778-4b62-9513-7339725475fd" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Austin pitmaster Evan LeRoy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/11/12/michelin-guide-texas-austin-restaurant-winners" target="_self">give you his secrets</a>.Driving the news: LeRoy, the chef and co-owner of LeRoy and Lewis, and Paula Forbes are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="releasing a new cookbook" data-vars-click-url="https://leroyandlewisbbq.com/newschoolbbqcookbook/" data-vars-content-id="51da4411-1778-4b62-9513-7339725475fd" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Austin pitmaster Evan LeRoy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://leroyandlewisbbq.com/newschoolbbqcookbook/" target="_blank">releasing a new cookbook</a> — &quot;New School Barbecue: Recipes for Next-Level Smoking and Grilling&quot; — with nearly 100 techniques and recipes, encouraging home cooks to go beyond the &quot;classic&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="barbecue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/08/18/austin-beer-barbecue-brewery-tour-guide" data-vars-content-id="51da4411-1778-4b62-9513-7339725475fd" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Austin pitmaster Evan LeRoy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/08/18/austin-beer-barbecue-brewery-tour-guide" target="_self">barbecue</a> dishes everyone serves.

Shakey Graves' very best Austin day

The inventive Austin musician has a new album coming out.

Music

Folk-blues musician Shakey Graves is a very busy man.Why it matters: Nearly 40 years old, he leads a new generation of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin musicians" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/music" data-vars-content-id="84c9c2de-84cd-4cc0-838d-3474916da2ce" data-vars-headline="Shakey Graves&#x27; very best Austin day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/music" target="_self">Austin musicians</a> even as he is a father to a young child.

Restaurants compete with creative lamb dishes

Six restaurants are competing in Lamb Jam, a national showdown that doubles as a real-time menu experiment.

Things to Do

Editor&#x27;s note: This story was written by University of Texas student Trinity Orosco for Axios Austin.Six Austin restaurants have spent the month of April transforming lamb into crispy arancini, laab and tostadas for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lamb Jam&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://americanlamb.com/lamb-jam-2026-austin/" data-vars-content-id="d66bfd10-b5f3-42f5-acc7-e535d5bb4dfc" data-vars-headline="Restaurants compete with creative lamb dishes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://americanlamb.com/lamb-jam-2026-austin/" target="_blank">Lamb Jam&#x27;s</a> restaurant competition.

Roxie’s serves up homestyle comfort food

Chicken, all-you-can-eat sides, dessert and more.

I have a recommendation for your next free afternoon.What&#x27;s happening: I recently took a trip to Buda to try out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roxie&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.roxiesbuda.com/" data-vars-content-id="fd6b3884-bc0c-4267-bffe-eef51479e8fa" data-vars-headline="Roxie’s serves up homestyle comfort food" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.roxiesbuda.com/" target="_blank">Roxie&#x27;s</a>, the new restaurant from Salt Lick BBQ owner Scott Roberts, and to check out the town, where a growing number of friends and acquaintances have moved.

Austin's top April events you won't want to miss

Austin's kite fest, comedy, music and more.

Food and Drink

It&#x27;s springtime in Central Texas, and one of our favorite months of the year to get out and explore Austin.Here are some of the events we&#x27;re most looking forward to.

Desert Island Dish with Geraldine's Sergio Ledesma

The chef of Geraldine's shares the dishes that are most important to him.

As part of our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="running feature" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/13/desert-island-dish-david-munoz" data-vars-content-id="54ffc092-f11b-496f-b70e-20030afbd26b" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Geraldine&#x27;s Sergio Ledesma" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/13/desert-island-dish-david-munoz" target="_self">running feature</a> about Austin chefs&#x27; favorite meals, we recently chatted with Sergio Ledesma, the executive chef at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Geraldine&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hotelvanzandt.com/geraldines/" data-vars-content-id="54ffc092-f11b-496f-b70e-20030afbd26b" data-vars-headline="Desert Island Dish with Geraldine&#x27;s Sergio Ledesma" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hotelvanzandt.com/geraldines/" target="_blank">Geraldine&#x27;s</a>, in the Hotel Van Zandt by Rainey Street.<ul><li>At the Southern-inflected Mexican restaurant, shrimp and grits ($38), composed with chintextle, a Oaxacan chili paste, shares menu space with a lamb barbacoa ($44) and sides like smoked carrots ($14), prepared with a guajillo adobo rub.</li></ul>

Austin pop-up fuels matcha craze

The pop-up has quickly become one of the city's buzziest stops.

Editor&#x27;s note: This story was written by University of Texas student Trinity Orosco for Axios Austin.An Austin matcha pop-up is drawing lines that stretch down the sidewalk, tapping into a fast-growing U.S. market for the Japanese green tea.

Find Middle Eastern flavors at South Austin's newest bakery

Try the labneh za'atar bun and pair it with Persian tea.

South Austin pastry fiends who have been missing Moonlight Bakery&#x27;s cinnamon rolls, cookies and whole wheat breads have a new source for flaky dough.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Matok" data-vars-click-url="https://matokbakery.com/" data-vars-content-id="2eb4a55f-6572-4a85-9a7c-e0e44c1e2c38" data-vars-headline="Find Middle Eastern flavors at South Austin&#x27;s newest bakery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://matokbakery.com/" target="_blank">Matok</a>, Hebrew for &quot;sweet,&quot; opened Tuesday in the old Moonlight spot, in a strip mall off South Lamar Boulevard, a few blocks south of the intersection with Oltorf Street.

David Muñoz's election night enchiladas recipe

After Austin chef David Muñoz <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told us" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/13/desert-island-dish-david-munoz" data-vars-content-id="b63273e8-5cf5-4d63-a5d0-f3e0062f3a73" data-vars-headline="David Muñoz&#x27;s election night enchiladas recipe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/01/13/desert-island-dish-david-munoz" target="_self">told us</a> that the one meal he&#x27;d want with him on a desert island is his mother&#x27;s election night enchiladas, readers asked for the recipe. <ul><li>Muñoz, who grew up in Fort Worth, is the executive chef at Henry&#x27;s at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Inn at Green Pastures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.greenpasturesaustin.com/" data-vars-content-id="b63273e8-5cf5-4d63-a5d0-f3e0062f3a73" data-vars-headline="David Muñoz&#x27;s election night enchiladas recipe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.greenpasturesaustin.com/" target="_blank">Inn at Green Pastures</a>. This recipe originated with his mother, Aurelia Muñoz — they&#x27;d be ready when her husband, an elections judge, came home from the polls.</li></ul>

Food and Drink 🍽

New York coffee shop to open in ATX Tower

Desert Island Dish with Austin pitmaster Evan LeRoy

Shakey Graves' very best Austin day

Restaurants compete with creative lamb dishes

Roxie’s serves up homestyle comfort food