President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to publicly rebuke U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and longtime Republican operative Karl Rove for what he called their effort to make it hard for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to win the U.S. Senate race. Trump wrote that both men should be “ashamed of themselves” for refusing to back Paxton after they lost a costly primary runoff to him in May.
Trump’s call to unite the GOP base
In the post, Trump warned that “if Ken Paxton loses, it will be because of WEAK and INEFFECTIVE political hacks like John Cornyn and Karl Rove, who have ineffectively opposed me for my entire political career.” He urged Republican voters who previously supported Cornyn to “immediately switch” their support to Paxton, framing the move as a defense of Texas values against the Democratic challenger.
Paxton’s Democratic opponent and the broader campaign
Paxton’s opponent, Texas Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat, has been courting moderate and undecided voters, including those who backed Cornyn in the primary. During a CNN town‑hall meeting, Talarico criticized the Trump administration’s handling of immigration enforcement and accused it of corruption, positioning himself as a centrist alternative.
Cornyn and Rove’s positions
Sen. Cornyn, a prolific fundraiser, has declined to endorse Paxton. In an August interview with The Texas Tribune, he said he would not move money toward Paxton’s campaign and described the Attorney General as “lazy” and a “poor campaigner.” Karl Rove, former adviser to President George W. Bush, has not publicly declared his vote. At the Texas Tribune Festival in September, Rove suggested the Senate race would be “over” if Cornyn had defeated Paxton in the primary, and he referenced allegations from Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial that led to an acquittal by the Texas Senate.
Rove’s remarks on Paxton’s controversies
Rove also highlighted past accusations against Paxton, noting, “You got a guy who’s got multiple girlfriends, $200,000 worth of improvements in his house from a corrupt business guy for whom he does favors … and now it’s in the court of public opinion.” He added that without those issues, the contest would be a typical Republican‑versus‑Democrat race.
Other races and upcoming voting
Both Cornyn and Rove have pledged to break party ranks in a separate election for Texas railroad commissioner, citing racist comments made by Republican candidate Bo French. Rove said he would vote for Democratic candidate Rep. Jon Rosenthal, while Cornyn indicated he might leave his ballot blank for that race.
Polling context
Trump’s comments arrive as early voting is set to begin on Oct. 19. Recent polls have shown the Democratic candidate holding a single‑digit lead over Paxton, a rarity in statewide Texas races that have been dominated by Republicans for three decades. The polls do not provide a prior‑period comparison, so no trend can be claimed.
Implications for Texas voters
Trump’s direct appeal underscores the high stakes of the Senate contest and reflects his ongoing influence within the Texas GOP. As early voting opens, the President’s urging may shape how former Cornyn supporters decide to cast their ballots, potentially narrowing the gap indicated by the latest polling.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
