Senate GOP Begrudgingly Circling Wagons Behind Ken Paxton After He Defeated One Of Their Favorites

Senate Republicans scrambled to smooth things over with Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday after he defeated their preferred candidate in a landslide.

Republicans immediately set aside their differences with Paxton after he unseated incumbent Texas Sen. John Cornyn by 28 percentage points in Tuesday’s Texas Senate GOP runoff. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who previously supported Cornyn, endorsed Paxton on “The Hugh Hewitt Show” Wednesday, stating that Paxton’s victory in November will be key to the Republican majority and future of the country.

“The Republican voters in Texas spoke last night, Ken Paxton is our nominee for November and we’ve got to pivot and go all in to make sure that we keep Texas red, that he wins, and that we keep a far-left liberal out of the United States Senate,” Thune said on the show. “And obviously that seat is going to be very key to our majority which will determine the future of this country.”

In March, Thune said Cornyn needed to remain in the Senate because he was “one of the most effective and respected conservative leaders” in the nation.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso stated that Paxton must defeat Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico, who he called a “far-left extremist” and a “rubber stamp for open borders.”

“A vote for [Paxton] in November is a vote for a safer, stronger, and more prosperous America,” Barrasso wrote in a Wednesday X post. “He has my endorsement and support. James Talarico is a far-left extremist. He is a rubber stamp for open borders, illegal immigrant criminals, and men playing in women’s sports. Talarico is too radical for Texas. Ken will be a key member of our Senate Republican majority fighting for America First.”

Barrasso told reporters in March that he “fully” supported Cornyn over Paxton after neither candidate received the necessary amount of votes to become the nominee in the March 3 primary.

Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott endorsed Paxton after initially opposing his primary challenge to Cornyn. Scott backed Cornyn in a statement from April.

“There’s been no better warrior for our party than John Cornyn,” Scott said. “I was blessed to have served with him and I look forward to his continued fight for our great country. But now I stand united with President Trump, Ken Paxton, and Texans who want to protect our Republican Majority. Talarico is a disaster and Texans will have nothing to do with his absurd agenda in November.”

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which Scott chairs, quietly deleted statements bashing Paxton the day after his victory. One post criticized Paxton’s extramarital affair while married to his wife of 38 years, Republican Texas State Sen. Angela Paxton. Another statement from July 2025 included the header, “Ken Paxton’s Lies and Incompetence Keep Piling Up” is currently a “404” page on the website.

Republican Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno appeared to be the first senator to endorse Paxton moments after The Associated Press called the race.

“I am proud to endorse @KenPaxtonTX. The voters have spoken, now Republicans must unite and win,” Moreno said. “Beto 2.0, James Talarico, is a far left freak who supports open borders, trans ideology, and even called the American flag a “complicated symbol.” Make no mistake: Ken Paxton will beat him in November and crush the dreams of the out-of-state billionaires propping up his campaign.” 

Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who remained neutral throughout the primary process, is set to host a $3,500-per-person fundraiser for Paxton on June 2, according to Politico.

Paxton beat Cornyn by a wider-than-expected margin after receiving President Donald Trump’s last-minute endorsement. Democrats appeared cautiously optimistic about Paxton’s victory on Tuesday and about their chances of beating him in November, given that Paxton has been embroiled in several personal controversies, The Hill reported.