Paxton caught complaining about Cornyn’s lack of support
Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton accused outgoing Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) of wanting him to lose in November, according to another leaked audio…
There’s something almost sad about hearing Ken Paxton say out loud what everyone in Texas politics already knew. Senator John Cornyn doesn’t want him to win. The outgoing Republican refused to endorse the man who beat him in a bitter primary, and now we have audio of Paxton acknowledging the obvious.
Commentary is separate from the original publisher's reporting.
Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton accused outgoing Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) of wanting him to lose in November, according to another leaked audio clip.
Paxton, the state attorney general, defeated Cornyn in a bitter Republican primary. He has publicly said he would “love to have” Cornyn’s endorsement, but the outgoing senator has declined to endorse either candidate in the race.
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“He’s clearly not helping. He wants me to lose,” Paxton said at a Sept. 24 gathering in Washington, according to the recording obtained by CNN.
Paxton made the remarks after being asked about Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), whom state Rep. James Talarico defeated in the Democratic primary.
The recording begins with Paxton questioning how much Crockett’s candidacy would affect the race, saying he did not “know how much she really affects votes.”
“I mean, maybe a little bit around the margins, just like Cornyn, basically how much he affects me,” Paxton said.
Paxton then described an alleged exchange with Cornyn in which the senator expressed opposition to his candidacy and suggested Republicans needed to learn a lesson from their primary decisions.
“Cornyn’s face went red. He backed off,” Paxton said. “He said, ‘Paxton’s gonna lose. We need to teach those Republicans a lesson. It’s going to be hard to learn, but they need to know that their decisions have consequences.’”
“That’s what he’s trying to do,” Paxton added. “That’s John Cornyn.”
The recording is the latest in a series of leaked audio clips to emerge from Paxton’s campaign.
In one clip, Paxton acknowledged that a Republican convention had hurt his standing in the race.
“So, to be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention — it dropped our numbers,” Paxton said. “Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.”
Another recording captured Paxton expressing frustration with the influence of national Republicans over his campaign.
“I’ve never been in a race where I felt less control over the campaign and, like, what issues are going to matter because it’s all coming — you know — from D.C.,” Paxton said.
He also cited economic concerns, including tariffs, the war, and rising fuel costs, as issues affecting the race, saying that “people are feeling the pinch.”
The Cook Political Report rates the Texas Senate race between Paxton and Talarico as a toss-up. Democrats are seeking to win a Senate seat in Texas for the first time since 1988, and recent polling has shown a competitive contest.
Meanwhile, Republicans have demanded that Talarico provide “proof of life” after he stopped appearing on the campaign trail following his campaign’s announcement that he had tested positive for the flu.
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
There’s something almost sad about hearing Ken Paxton say out loud what everyone in Texas politics already knew. Senator John Cornyn doesn’t want him to win. The outgoing Republican refused to endorse the man who beat him in a bitter primary, and now we have audio of Paxton acknowledging the obvious. Fine. But here’s the part that should bother anyone who values party unity: Cornyn would rather sulk than help the GOP keep Texas competitive. That’s not principle. That’s a grudge.
Paxton has said publicly he’d “love to have” Cornyn’s endorsement. He didn’t have to say that. He could have written Cornyn off and moved on. Instead, he offered an open hand, and Cornyn left him hanging. That says more about Cornyn than Paxton. The outgoing senator has spent twenty years in Washington building a brand as a dealmaker, but when it comes to the Republican who actually won the primary, he suddenly has nothing to say. Voters notice that. They just watched a primary where they chose a fighter over an institution, and the institution is acting like a sore loser.
Leaked audio is never a good look, and Paxton knows he’ll get clipped for it. But the substance of what he said shouldn't shock anyone. Cornyn didn't just lose an election, he lost the grassroots. That’s why he’s retiring. The old way of doing business in the Senate is over, and Cornyn’s silent treatment is the last gasp of it. Republicans can't afford a Civil War within their own ranks while Democrats are busy organizing and spending. The voters have made their choice. The question now is whether Cornyn will ever accept it, or whether he'll spend his last months in office taking parting shots at his own party's nominee.
Paxton is no saint. He's been through legal battles and controversies that would have ended lesser politicians. But the people of Texas renominated him anyway. They sent a clear message about the direction they want. If Cornyn can't respect that, he shouldn't be surprised when he leaves Washington with the door hitting him on the way out. Stick with the voters or get out of the way. That's the choice, and Cornyn has made his.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.