Insider or instigator? Texas Republicans deserve a better choice. |
Texas Republicans face a bitter U.S. Senate runoff on May 26 between longtime Washington insider Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the MAGA-aligned firebrand who finally secured President Donald Trump's endorsement at the 11th hour.
The race offers Republicans two dramatically different visions for the party's future: the old-guard establishment represented by Cornyn and the combative, controversy-driven populism embodied by Paxton. The eventual nominee will then face Democratic Rep. James Talarico, a rising Democrat many Republicans view as far more politically formidable than he first appears.
About the only thing Cornyn and Paxton seem to share is a long career in politics, though neither has exactly elevated the profession’s reputation along the way. It's unfortunate that Texas Republicans face such a consequential choice between two deeply flawed options: one politician entrenched in establishment politics and the other mired in controversy.
Texans deserve better than this, but here we are.
Cornyn vs. Paxton: Insider or instigator?
If polls are to be trusted, the race between Cornyn and Paxton is close. A RealClearPolitics average shows Paxton leading Cornyn by a mere three points.
The last few years have reshaped Texas politics, especially among Republicans. In 2020, Cornyn faced no serious Republican challenger and defeated his Democratic opponent by nearly 10 points. But Trump's 2024 victory changed the political landscape again. Trump won Texas by more than 56%, and the state has become even more Republican since 2020 as conservative voters from blue states........