Republican says Trump’s support of Ken Paxton in Texas primary was ‘colossal mistake’

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Republican says Trump’s support of Ken Paxton in Texas primary was ‘colossal mistake’

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Senator Thom Tillis publicly criticized Donald Trump for endorsing Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate primary, labeling the move a colossal mistake. Trump supported Paxton after Cornyn suggested the party move beyond Trump, leading Paxton to defeat Cornyn in the primary runoff. Tillis argued that Paxton's historical scandals and legal baggage have put a traditionally safe Republican seat at significant risk against Democratic nominee James Talarico. The intraparty dispute highlights growing friction between traditional establishment figures and Trump loyalists regarding candidate electability and strategic positioning heading into the upcoming midterm elections. National Republicans now face unexpected financial expenditures to defend a seat that otherwise would have remained secure.

Published 2026-09-27 20:39:00 UTC · Published by JQJO

Prepared by Ayesha A. · AI assisted

More context

Timeline

On January 15, 2023, Ken Paxton survived a historic state impeachment trial.
On June 21, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted Ken Paxton of all charges.
On November 10, 2025, John Cornyn publicly suggested Republicans look past Donald Trump.
On December 1, 2025, Donald Trump labeled incumbent Senator John Cornyn very disloyal.
On January 10, 2026, Donald Trump officially endorsed Ken Paxton in Texas primary.
On March 2, 2026, Ken Paxton defeated John Cornyn in primary runoff.
On June 5, 2026, Senator Thom Tillis criticized the Trump endorsement as mistakes.
On July 12, 2026, polls showed a surprisingly competitive general election contest.
On August 20, 2026, national Republican committees increased funding for Texas race.
On September 25, 2026, campaign events intensified across Texas ahead of November midterms.

Why it matters

Immediate US impact: Diverts vital national Republican campaign funds to defend Texas. Possible long-term US impact: Alters party factional power balance heading into future elections. Most affected groups: Texas voters, Republican strategists, and national campaign committees. Reader priority: Track independent polling data and major party funding allocations closely.

Coverage notes

Left: Framing emphasizes party chaos and vulnerability of safe seats. Center: Framing focuses objectively on strategic division and financial costs. Right: Framing highlights intraparty loyalty battles and candidate electability debates.