Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton publicly praised Sen. John Cornyn after their bruising Republican primary runoff, but a privately recorded conversation obtained by CNN shows Paxton venting frustration that the senior senator is not actively supporting his general‑election campaign.
Paxton’s remarks at a Washington fundraiser
During a September 24 fundraiser in Washington, Paxton was asked about Rep. Jasmine Crockett, the Democrat who lost to state Rep. James Talarico in the primary. Paxton replied that Crockett’s impact on the vote was likely marginal, then added, “He’s clearly not helping. He wants me to lose.” The comment was captured on an audio recording supplied by an event attendee who opposes Paxton.
Paxton also recounted a recent encounter at a Dallas restaurant in which a friend bought dessert for Cornyn and thanked him for “supporting the ticket” and “supporting Ken Paxton.” According to Paxton, Cornyn’s face turned red and he warned, “Paxton’s gonna lose. We need to teach those Republicans a lesson.” Paxton interpreted the exchange as evidence that Cornyn is deliberately holding back.
Cornyn’s office denies the story
Rob Jesmer, a longtime political strategist for Cornyn, told CNN the restaurant conversation never occurred. “If Sen. Cornyn wanted Ken to lose, I can assure you he’d be more active in the campaign,” Jesmer said, adding that Cornyn has publicly supported the Republican ticket.
Paxton’s campaign dismissed the audio as “a story that doesn’t exist” but noted that Paxton has reached out to Cornyn by phone and text to discuss the race.
Trump’s backing and the broader GOP effort
President Donald Trump, who endorsed Paxton in the primary, expressed concern about the Texas race but declined to comment on the recordings. He reiterated his support at a San Antonio rally, calling Paxton “perhaps the greatest attorney general in the United States of America.” The Trump administration’s allies have poured well over $100 million into the Texas Senate contest, underscoring the race’s national significance.
Poll snapshot and intra‑party dynamics
A Fox News poll conducted late last month found that nearly one‑third of Republican likely voters hold an unfavorable view of Paxton. While Paxton enjoys strong support among the party’s base, about 20 % of “non‑MAGA” Republicans indicated a preference for Talarico. The poll reflects a split within the Texas GOP, with Cornyn’s longtime supporters weighing in on the primary runoff and the upcoming general election.
Both campaigns continue to court different factions of the party. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a close Trump ally, has suggested Cornyn’s reluctance to endorse Paxton amounts to “sore losers undermining our party.” Cornyn, meanwhile, has emphasized his commitment to the Republican ticket while maintaining a cautious distance from Paxton’s campaign.
What’s next for the race?
With the general election approaching, the Paxton‑Cornyn feud adds another layer of complexity to a contest that could determine control of the U.S. Senate. Republicans remain confident that the massive financial backing and Trump’s endorsement will help Paxton secure a victory, but the internal discord highlighted by the leaked audio may give Democrats a foothold in a state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
