ICYMI: Ken Paxton tries to tamp down growing Republican concerns about his Senate campaign [CNN]
AUSTIN, TX — Corrupt Ken Paxton’s failing campaign is facing another week of brutal headlines as “Texas Republicans are openly worried about losing” the U.S. Senate race, according to CNN.
CNN reports that conservative radio show hosts Michael Berry said “there is a lot of frustration” and that people are asking “What’s the Paxton campaign doing?” Meanwhile Texas Republicans are refusing to back Paxton for his corruption, including 6 Texas GOP House members, and Talarico is receiving “tripartisan” support.
Paxton has been getting hit week after week by right-wing commentators from Fox News to the National Review for his lazy campaigning after his luxury European vacation with his mistress, lack of public appearances, and repeatedly dodging questions.
Read for yourself:
August 14, 2026
By Patrick Svitek
Texas Republicans are openly worried about losing a statewide race for the first time in three decades. Sen. Ted Cruz, who has been working privately to introduce Paxton to donors, recently said he expected the race “could be decided by a point or two,” which would be tighter than Cruz’s close call against Democrat Beto O’Rourke in 2018. And Michael Berry, a prominent conservative radio host, opened an interview with Paxton on Tuesday by saying he is in “a tough race.”
“I know there is a lot of frustration. I hear it,” Berry told Paxton. “What’s the Paxton campaign doing? What’s the path to victory? Let’s talk about fundraising. I know that’s been difficult. You beat a 24-year incumbent, obviously stepped on a lot of toes. There’s been some concern. Will there be the money there to run the campaign it takes to win?”
“We need help now,” Paxton said in a Fox News interview Sunday, suggesting his campaign was trying to raise enough money so it could start airing TV ads next month.
Polling shows it is Paxton who trails Talarico in consolidating support from his party’s voters.
Only a few House Republicans from Texas supported Paxton against Cornyn, but on Wednesday, Paxton’s campaign touted that he now had the backing of 18 out of the 24 Republican members in the state’s US House delegation – and that it signaled “unity.”
Talarico has long staked his campaign on a populist economic message that cuts across party lines. He sought to set the tone for the rest of the election with a slickly produced rally last week in Arlington where he was introduced by Glen Whitley, who was a Republican when he served as Tarrant County judge from 2007 to 2022.
“We have an affordability crisis because we have a corruption crisis,” Talarico said at the rally, blaming “billionaires buying politicians like Ken Paxton.”
Talarico has also appealed to Cornyn supporters recently by praising the senator for sending a letter to the Trump administration raising concerns about border wall construction in Big Bend National Park. And after Paxton touted his latest congressional endorsements, Talarico’s campaign issued a statement questioning why six House Republicans from Texas were still withholding their support. The group includes Reps. Michael McCaul, Dan Crenshaw and Chip Roy, all of whom are leaving the House after this year.
“I think that (Talarico’s) got a chance with a small number of (Republican) voters – and he may only need a small number of voters,” said Katherine Fischer, executive director of Texas Majority PAC.
Not all Republicans are ready to embrace Paxton. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, a former Cornyn supporter and a top elected official in an important battleground county, remains neutral in the general election, a spokesperson confirmed.
Erik Gomez, mayor of the South Texas city of Sabinal and a prominent surrogate for Cornyn during the primary, is not ready to formally back Paxton. During the primary, Gomez questioned Paxton’s ability to win in November and highlighted his personal issues, including Paxton’s alleged extramarital affairs.
He noted he still sees “Paxton supporters throwing jabs at Cornyn supporters.”
“I personally want to see that stop,” Gomez said.
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