NBC News projects that Paxton, who received a late endorsement from Trump, will advance to the general election to face Democrat James Talarico.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has defeated Sen. John Cornyn for the Republican Senate nomination, NBC News projects, the latest challenger backed by Donald Trump to unseat an incumbent.

Paxton will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in a November race that could become key to the fight for the Senate majority.

Trump endorsed Paxton last week, giving him a last-minute boost in his bid to oust Cornyn, who has been in the Senate since 2003. Cornyn and Paxton faced off Tuesday in a head-to-head runoff after no candidate won more than 50% of the vote in the initial multicandidate March primary.