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In a high-stakes battle for political survival, Senator John Cornyn of Texas has issued a stark warning to voters that electing Attorney General Ken Paxton to his Senate seat could deliver a Democratic victory in the traditionally Republican stronghold for the first time in nearly three decades.
“Ken Paxton will be the kiss of death for Republicans on the ticket in November of 2026,” Cornyn declared as he campaigned across the Lone Star State ahead of the upcoming March 3 primary election.
The three-way Republican primary contest has tightened into a deadlock between Cornyn, Paxton, and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt. With early voting already underway, tensions among the candidates have escalated dramatically.
Paxton’s camp swiftly countered Cornyn’s assertions. Nick Maddux, an advisor to the attorney general, pointed to Paxton’s double-digit victory in his 2022 election as evidence of his electoral strength. “The same thing is going to happen in 2026, because Republican voters are fired up to go to the polls and support him,” Maddux told reporters.
The advisor further criticized Cornyn’s campaign spending, claiming over $70 million has been “lit on fire” that could have supported competitive races in North Carolina, Michigan, Maine, and Georgia. “Texas voters don’t like him, don’t trust him, and won’t show up to vote for him in November,” Maddux asserted.
The political stakes extend beyond a single Senate seat. Republicans currently hold a trifecta in Washington—controlling the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives—which has enabled President Donald Trump to advance major legislative priorities including his signature tax bill.
Cornyn emphasized the historical significance of the contest, noting that 1994 marked the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in Texas. He warned that if Paxton secures the nomination, he might either lose outright to a Democrat or win by such a narrow margin that it would damage Republican candidates in down-ballot races.
Democrats see an opportunity in the Republican infighting. Representative Jasmine Crockett and state Representative James Talarico are positioned as potential Democratic challengers for the seat, eager to capitalize on any Republican vulnerability.
The battle has yet to receive clear direction from former President Trump, who has refrained from endorsing any of the three Republican contenders. When questioned about his preference, Trump simply told reporters earlier this week that he “liked all three of them.”
Cornyn has attempted to frame the election in terms of Trump’s broader political agenda, suggesting that the president has strategic interests in maintaining Republican control across Texas. “I know President Trump feels very strongly not only about Texas but also about the congressional races,” Cornyn said. “We’ve got five new congressional seats in Texas, and I know the president wants to carry the majority for the House into the midterms and beyond.”
The senator added a pointed reminder about what he believes is at stake: “As [Trump] said himself, if Democrats win the majority in the House of Representatives, they will impeach him for the third time.”
The heated primary comes at a time when midterm elections traditionally serve as a referendum on the sitting president’s administration. Despite recent redistricting efforts that generally favor Republican candidates, Cornyn maintains that a Paxton victory in the primary could undermine these advantages and potentially trigger losses across multiple races.
With less than two weeks until primary election day, the campaign has intensified into a battle not just for a Senate seat, but potentially for the future direction of Texas politics and Republican influence at the national level.
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6 Comments
Paxton’s advisor seems confident that the attorney general’s strong 2022 showing is a good indicator of his electoral strength going forward. However, Cornyn’s concerns about Paxton potentially being a ‘kiss of death’ for Republicans raise some valid questions.
I’m curious to see if Paxton’s past legal troubles and the associated controversy will play a role in how Republican voters view his candidacy.
Cornyn’s significant campaign spending raises an interesting point about the resources being poured into this race. It’s worth considering how that financial factor could impact the dynamics and outcome of the primary.
The high-stakes nature of this primary battle and the potential implications for the general election make it an important race to watch. It will be informative to see how the campaign rhetoric and voter sentiment evolve in the lead-up to the primary.
This political battle in Texas is certainly heating up. It will be interesting to see how Republican voters respond to Cornyn’s warnings about Paxton’s candidacy and the potential impact on the party’s chances in the general election.
This is certainly a politically charged situation, with strong opinions and high stakes on both sides. I’ll be following the developments closely to see how the Republican primary plays out in Texas.