The battle for Texas’ Senate seat turned vicious as Republican Sen. John Cornyn blasted state Attorney General Ken Paxton, calling him “a con man and a fraud” after Paxton launched a primary challenge against him.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Cornyn didn’t hold back, accusing Paxton’s candidacy of wasting critical resources that could be better spent in key battleground states. Cornyn warned that Paxton’s bid would drain “hundreds of millions of dollars” from the GOP, hurting Republican chances in Michigan, New Hampshire, and Georgia.
“Obviously, Mr. Paxton has a checkered past,” Cornyn said. “He is a con man and a fraud, and I think the people of Texas know that. This is what will be litigated over the course of this campaign.”
Paxton made his candidacy official on Tuesday during an interview on Fox News’s “The Ingraham Angle,” putting an end to speculation about whether he would challenge Cornyn. Paxton has repeatedly labeled Cornyn a “Republican in name only” (RINO), criticizing his votes on issues like Ukraine aid and bipartisan gun safety measures following the 2022 Uvalde school shooting.
The two men have been at odds for years, with Paxton going after Cornyn’s votes and Cornyn zeroing in on Paxton’s troubled legal history.
Paxton’s legal issues began in 2015 when he was indicted on securities fraud charges for allegedly soliciting investments for a company while failing to disclose that he was being paid by the company. He pleaded not guilty and, in 2024, settled the case by agreeing to pay $300,000 and complete community service.
In 2023, Paxton faced impeachment by the Texas House on 16 charges related to abusing his office. Though he was acquitted in the Senate, the impeachment saga continues to haunt him.
The upcoming primary showdown has come to represent a larger fight within the Texas GOP, pitting the establishment faction, represented by Cornyn, against the more hard-line, Trump-aligned wing that Paxton represents.
Cornyn, however, has repeatedly emphasized his support for Trump, citing his loyalty to the president during both of his terms. He made it clear that Paxton’s attacks wouldn’t shake his resolve.
“We will fight this to the end, and we will win,” Cornyn declared, warning that Paxton wasn’t fit for the Senate seat once held by Texas icon Sam Houston. “I am not going to turn over this Senate seat to somebody like [Paxton].”
As the feud heats up, it’s clear the battle for Texas’ Senate seat is only just beginning, with both men setting the stage for a bruising primary fight.
