A spelling mistake briefly brought Cyprus into the US Senate campaign in Texas after Republican candidate and state Attorney General Ken Paxton mistakenly referred to Cypress, a Houston suburb, as “Cyprus” in a social media post.
Paxton was announcing an upcoming campaign appearance with Republican Senator Ted Cruz. His original post read: “Next stop: Cyprus with the great @TedCruz.”
The event is actually scheduled in Cypress, Texas, in the Houston area.
The typo quickly drew attention online, with Paxton’s Democratic opponent, state Representative James Talarico, and his campaign highlighting the error.
Campaign teams trade responses
Talarico’s campaign responded on X with the correction: “Cypress, not Cyprus”, while also linking the mistake to criticism of Paxton’s overseas travel.
The original post was later deleted. A subsequent Facebook post by Paxton used the correct spelling, Cypress. According to the Houston Chronicle, Talarico’s post about the mistake had attracted nearly one million views by Sunday afternoon.
Paxton’s campaign dismissed the reaction as a focus on “trivial distractions and typos”, saying the Republican candidate was instead focused on economic and cost-of-living issues.
It’s Cypress, not “Cyprus.”
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) September 20, 2026
But for all the time you spend on luxury vacations in Europe, it's no surprise you don't know Texas. https://t.co/ganEiy6LGp
From Cypress to Cyprus
The planned event with Cruz is a campaign rally in Cypress, rather than a trip to Cyprus.
The spelling error nevertheless quickly became a talking point in the Texas Senate race, temporarily putting the name of the Mediterranean island at the centre of the campaign.
Ken Paxton is All Hat & No Camel.
— Houston Parents & Teachers United (@TxEdHouston) September 20, 2026
James Talarico KNOWS #Texas! #Cypress:
A residential area in Harris County, in Texas (a northwestern suburb of Houston).#Cyprus:
A country in the Middle East
(an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea).#AllHatNoCamel pic.twitter.com/JDPe9CRA4C
Also read: Christodoulides announces new US investments in Cyprus
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