The political landscape in Texas may be gearing up for a significant shakeup as Attorney General Ken Paxton hints at a potential Senate run against incumbent Senator John Cornyn. With Paxton and Cornyn currently engaged in a public feud, experts are paying close attention to the unfolding drama.
Josh Blank, Research Director of the Texas Politics Project, shed light on the tension between the two Republicans, recounting Cornyn's criticism of Paxton's ethical judgment and Paxton's counter that Cornyn is not "committed to the conservative cause and someone should knock him out," according to a CBS Austin report. Recent developments also saw the Biden Administration opt not to prosecute Paxton in a corruption case in their final weeks, effectively leaving his record clean as he considers seriously throwing his hat into the Senate race ring.
James Henson, Director of the Texas Politics Project, has described Paxton as likely "the strongest primary challenger Cornyn has ever seen." Henson highlighted Paxton's strategic position in the political sphere, buoyed by high approval levels from the most conservative and diehard Republican voters, as reported by FOX San Antonio. A poll conducted by the University of Texas Politics Project in February found that just 49% of Republican voters approved of Cornyn's performance, a stark contrast to Paxton's 62% approval rate.
Despite the strong show of support for Paxton from the party's base, Josh Blank has pointed out that Cornyn remains a long-standing senator backed by significant resources. “People feel that the Senator might be one of the easier Republicans to beat in a primary because he doesn't have the full throat of support of some of the most conservative supporters in the state," Blank remarked in the CBS Austin article. Nonetheless, Cornyn's history of winning Republican primaries and re-elections could still stand to serve as a formidable challenge for Paxton.
As Texas political circles continue to buzz with anticipation, Ken Paxton has yet to formally declare his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Observers and experts, however, expect that an announcement could come this fall, following the 89th Legislature's session, as suggested by both news sources. The potential primary battle between Paxton and Cornyn is poised to become a focal point in Texas politics, with the outcome having the possibility to significantly influence the Republican landscape.
.jpg){kind=link}