Senator Cornyn redirects fundraising to battleground states, skips Texas Senate race

Senator John Cornyn, a veteran fundraiser for Texas Republicans, told one outlet he will not be raising money for Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate bid. He plans to direct contributions to tight races in New Hampshire, Michigan and Alaska, arguing that cash is more effective outside the state’s “black hole” of campaign funding. Cornyn reiterated his view that Paxton is a poor campaigner and has not altered his assessment since the primary runoff.

Despite Paxton’s allies, including President Donald Trump and the Lone Star Liberty PAC, pouring resources into the race, Cornyn highlighted the Democratic challenger James Talarico’s $30 million second-quarter haul versus Paxton’s $9 million. He even suggested the president could personally fund Paxton if desired. The senator emphasized his commitment to maintaining GOP control of the Senate while staying detached from the Texas contest.