John Cornyn Primary: Texas Senator Fends Off Challengers In GOP Race

John Cornyn has won the Republican primary for Texas' Senate seat, the Associated Press reports.

Cornyn, who has held the seat since 2002, fended off a field of longshot challengers, including Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas).

He currently serves as the Senate Minority Whip.

Below, more from the Associated Press:

Incumbent John Cornyn has crushed tea party-backed U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman and six lesser-known primary challengers to win Texas' Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

As party whip, Cornyn is second in the GOP Senate leadership. He is the overwhelming favorite to win his third term in office during November's general election.

Cornyn has been dubbed too moderate by a small group of tea party activists. He faced a last-minute challenge from the right by Stockman, a fierce conservative and House renegade.

But Stockman struggled to raise money. He did little organized campaigning, ignoring the media and alienating many top Texas grass-roots organizers.

Stockman even dropped completely out of sight for nearly three weeks in January — though it turned out he'd been part of an official overseas delegation.