Republicans Are Scrambling To Avert A ‘Massacre’ In Texas’ Senate RaceRepublicans Are Scrambling To Avert A ‘Massacre’ In Texas’ Senate Race | EUROtoday

AUSTIN, Texas – Seven months and $60 million later, Senate Republicans’ efforts to rescue certainly one of their caucus’ main members have confirmed completely ineffective, driving worries the celebration might lose a statewide election in Texas for the primary time in three a long time and provides Democrats one other pathway to claiming a Senate majority.

Despite getting massively outspent within the remaining weeks earlier than the March 3 main, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is main the GOP race to switch longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in a contest that’s prone to go to a runoff subsequent month. An underwhelming efficiency by Cornyn would possibly seal his destiny earlier than that even occurs, so he’s stepping up his assaults towards Paxton this week, predicting an electoral massacre for the GOP ought to the ethically challenged, far-right Paxton develop into the nominee.

“We will have an Election Day massacre,” Cornyn warned at an early voting kickoff occasion on Tuesday. “Republicans up and down the ticket will pay the price of having an albatross like our corrupt attorney general hung around their neck. If Ken Paxton is at the top of the ticket, we risk losing the Senate seat, losing the majority in the House of Representatives, and it will take a toll on everybody on the ballot.”

“Complacency is a killer,” he added. “Complacency kills relationships, it kills careers, it kills countries, and it kills great political parties, like the Republican Party right here in Texas.”

The 74-year-old senator, who’s in search of his fifth time period within the Senate, is hoping GOP main voters in Texas will probably be moved by appeals to ethics and propriety within the age of Trump, a two-time divorcee who was twice impeached by a Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. Paxton was impeached in 2023 by the GOP-controlled Texas House for bribery and abuse of workplace. His spouse additionally divorced him final 12 months on “biblical grounds,” together with accusations of adultery. But Trump has stood by the conservative hardliner, dismissing his impeachment as “unfair” and a “disgrace.” He’s even floated him as a attainable candidate for U.S. legal professional common.

Asked this week concerning the main, Trump disenchanted Republicans by declining to throw Cornyn a lifeline. He stated as an alternative that he helps “all three” candidates, together with Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), one other Trump ally working for the seat.

Polls have constantly proven Paxton main the race, nevertheless, and there’s little proof that the tens of tens of millions Cornyn’s allies have spent on the race up to now have swayed voters. A ballot of seemingly main voters from the University of Houston launched final week confirmed Paxton at 38%, Cornyn at 31% and Hunt at 17%. The ballot additionally confirmed Cornyn, who’s by no means been cherished by the GOP base as a result of his document working throughout the aisle, dropping to Paxton by 11 factors in a runoff election.

The consequence might reverberate past Texas: Operatives in each events imagine Cornyn can be a heavy favourite in November whereas Paxton would put GOP management of the seat in danger, particularly if state Rep. James Talarico wins the Democratic nomination. Democrats don’t see a victory in Texas as a key a part of their path to a Senate majority in 2026, however a victory there would open up extra methods for them to achieve the 51 seats required.

That’s how Republicans, together with tremendous PACs managed by allies of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have justified spending $60 million to cease Paxton’s marketing campaign, arguing that doing so will save them from having to spend $100 million or extra to bail out a weaker candidate in November.

The downside? The spending up to now has had little impact. The barrage could backfire, because it has allowed Paxton to place himself as an anti-establishment candidate taking up particular pursuits in Washington.

“His money is coming from the D.C. establishment, and that’s how he can afford these commercials, and that’s how they always try to convince us in Washington, with their money that we should select their person,” Paxton stated this week at an occasion in Tyler, Texas. “Well, I’m not their person, and I will never be their person. I’m going to stay here and fight for you all.”

“They’re spending millions to convince you he’s done things he hasn’t and that he’s supported Trump the whole time. It’s not true,” he added.

Paxton, 63, has finished comparatively few public occasions up to now. He’s not a dynamic speaker, and when he does seem on the marketing campaign path, he can appear stiff and awkward. But conservatives love his document preventing President Barack Obama’s administration throughout his three phrases as Texas legal professional common, and his authorized efforts difficult Trump’s loss within the 2020 presidential election. Much of the $60 million has gone in direction of tv adverts questioning Paxton’s ethics and highlighting his divorce, however his supporters don’t appear to care.

“I like his ethics,” stated Molly Deems, a retired trainer who confirmed as much as hear Paxton converse at a restaurant in Tyler on Tuesday. “I think he’s very strong. He knows what the Constitution says and that he will do what he says he’s going to do.”

“Divorce should not matter,” she added of Paxton’s private life. “I don’t think that should ever matter. A man’s private life is man’s private life. It’s what he does when he’s in that office.”

“I’d like a change. Cornyn has been there for 20 years,” added Ivan Sturgeon, one other Tyler native who continues to be deciding whether or not to help Paxton or Hunt.

Hunt, a 43-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Houston, entered the race late final 12 months, angering prime Republicans who imagine his candidacy will break up the first voters and finally assist Paxton win the nomination. The two-term congressman has drawn criticism for his prolonged absences from Washington, the place he’s missed vital votes, giving Republican management complications as they wrestle with a slim majority within the House of Representatives.

Senate Republicans who’re supporting Cornyn additionally fear that an unpleasant main in Texas will harm the GOP’s efforts to carry on to his Senate seat, in addition to different extra aggressive Senate races across the nation.

“It just means we end up spending a lot more resources that then can’t be used in other races, that are really tough races,” Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) informed HuffPost.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), in the meantime, complained about what he referred to as a “horrible” resolution by Turning Point USA to endorse Paxton. The conservative political group based by Charlie Kirk is fashionable with Trump supporters, significantly these on faculty campuses.

“Whoever thought that was a good idea really doesn’t understand the headwinds that we’ve got to deal with,” Tillis stated.

At Cornyn’s marketing campaign occasion in Austin on Tuesday, which was held at a Tex-Mex restaurant, dozens of principally older and wealthier supporters gathered to listen to him converse concerning the race. He touted his seniority within the Senate and talent to deliver billions of {dollars} house as the explanation why Texas can’t afford to change to a brand new face in Washington proper now. He additionally shrugged off questions on Trump’s resolution to not endorse him.

“The president knows he can trust me to be there to support him and his agenda, and I appreciate that, but it’s going to be up to him to make that call,” Cornyn stated. “I think he kind of likes a good fight, and he’s going to see one right here in Texas.”

Randy Hickel, a health care provider from Lubbock, Texas, who’s supporting Cornyn, stated he apprehensive concerning the course of his celebration, significantly if it finally ends up nominating anyone like Paxton, who has a document of questioning science and the efficacy of vaccines.

“I am disappointed at some of the things that we’re all witnessing in the Republican Party,” Hickel informed HuffPost. “And it’s not just a philosophical shift further to the right. It’s some of the people that are being advocated for.”

“I don’t like the anti-science movement that’s afoot that denies clear evidence,” he added. “It’s hard to be on the side that’s denying scientific evidence. Can there be a polarization or politicization of interpretation of data? Sure. To deny science is regrettable.”

Former Texas GOP Gov. Rick Perry, who additionally attended the occasion and spoke in help of his reelection, stated he couldn’t even fathom what he would do if Paxton wins the nomination subsequent month.

“I have no idea. What are we going to do if aliens come down before the election?” he requested rhetorically.