Cornyn Calls Paxton Lazy, Poor Campaigner

Senator John Cornyn, who was defeated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a high-profile GOP runoff, says he will not fundraise for Paxton’s general election bid and has publicly branded Paxton a “lazy” and “poor campaigner” who fails to offer a compelling case to voters. He argues Paxton’s campaign efforts are hindering Republicans’ chances in Texas, a view he ties to Paxton’s fundraising shortfalls and weak general-election messaging. Polls show Paxton in a tight race with Democrat James Talarico, with Talarico holding a fundraising edge that dwarfs Paxton’s, prompting questions about the campaign’s competitiveness. Despite President Donald Trump endorsing Paxton, Cornyn contends Trump could do more by directly contributing to Paxton’s campaign, while noting many of Cornyn’s own donors have stayed on the sidelines. The Texas Tribune and other outlets report Paxton lags behind Talarico in overall fundraising, and Cornyn suggests Paxton’s campaign hasn’t engaged mainstream Republican supporters in Texas. Overall, Cornyn’s criticisms and fundraising stance highlight internal GOP tensions as Texas remains a battleground in the race for Senate control.