Party worries a victory by Maga darling Ken Paxton over John Cornyn would open door to Democrats in red state
Four-term Republican US senator John Cornyn is fighting for his political life against Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, in a bitter primary contest that will likely end in a runoff.
As polls began to close across the Lone Star state on Tuesday evening, national Republicans were openly fretting that a victory by Paxton, a scandal-plagued conservative culture warrior who is a darling of Donald Trump’s Maga movement, would give Democrats a rare opening in a solidly red state.
Republicans, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, have already spent tens of millions of dollars rallying to Cornyn’s defense. Donors will likely be pressed to spend millions more if the race is forced into a 10-week runoff.
Trump has so far not weighed in, heaping praise on all three candidates during a visit to Texas last week. All have touted their closeness to the president, with Cornyn highlighting his record of voting for the president’s agenda. In the last few weeks, he’s also touted his electability, warning that his rival would jeopardize Republicans’ chances of holding the seat in November.
