Politics16h ago·39 sources
The Texas Republican Senate primary is getting nastier as it heads to an expected runoff, drawing out the intraparty challenge that party leaders worry is giving Democrats an opening
Republicans in Washington are increasingly concerned about the intensifying intraparty contest for the Texas Senate seat, fearing it could jeopardize their majority. The race is expected to head to a runoff, likely between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. National Republicans have spent nearly $100 million on advertising, with some efforts aimed at highlighting Paxton's personal and legal troubles, which could harm him in a general election. Despite this, Paxton, a MAGA-aligned figure, polls strongly within the primary base. Party leaders worry that if Paxton wins the nomination, the seat could flip to Democrats, forcing Republicans to divert significant resources from other key battleground races. Polling suggests Cornyn would perform better against Democratic challengers than Paxton would. Donald Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate, adding to the uncertainty.