Down in initial polls of the race, Senator John Cornyn of Texas said he would make charges of corruption against his challenger, the state’s attorney general, stick.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) faces a hotly contested GOP primary as he seeks a fifth term in office, but he is leaning on a “character” argument to keep his seat in the Senate. Cornyn faces a battle with GOP Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate primary next year.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton leads Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) by 9 points in their upcoming Republican primary battle for the state’s Senate seat next year, according to a survey released