Democrats see a moment ripe for the taking to win over Cornyn-backers after party leaders, save for Trump, openly trashed Paxton as a morally compromised candidate and a weaker general election opponent against the progressive Talarico.“We don’t agree on everything, but we both still believe in public service,” Talarico posted Tuesday night, along with praise for Cornyn’s nearly 25 years in the Senate. “To Senator Cornyn’s supporters: you have a place in our campaign.”
Paxton, the Texas attorney general, used part of his victory speech after a resounding 28-point win to woo Republicans whose support he lacked but who will be the target of tens of millions of dollars from Democrats to flip the Lone Star State in the November midterm elections. Talarico, a state representative, hauled in $600,000 in just two hours following Paxton’s win.
“No matter who you supported in this race, whether it was me, Senator Cornyn, or you voted for someone different in March, I want to thank every single Texan, and I want to let them know that I want to earn your support,” Paxton said.
Even President Donald Trump, who condemned Cornyn as disloyal after endorsing Paxton in the days leading up to the runoff, made overtures to those who supported the four-term senator. Trump cheered Cornyn on Truth Social for “having run a strong and powerful race but, more importantly, having had a truly great career.”
