Republican lawmakers are pressing President Donald Trump to provide financial backing for his endorsed candidate in Texas after creating what many see as an unexpectedly competitive Senate race.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent four-term Senator John Cornyn in last month’s primary runoff, riding Trump’s last-minute endorsement to victory. The upset victory prompted political analysts to downgrade the race from a safe Republican hold to a competitive contest in a state Trump carried by nearly 14 points in 2024.
The attorney general now confronts a formidable Democratic challenger in state Representative James Talarico, who has emerged as a major fundraising force. Talarico’s campaign has collected $40 million through March and maintains $9.9 million in available funds. Meanwhile, Paxton has struggled financially, raising only $7.6 million through May 6 with just $2.3 million remaining in his campaign account. Paxton faces felony fraud charges and survived impeachment proceedings in the Texas House, though he maintains his innocence.
“It would be very helpful if the president would help the people he endorsed,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis, a retiring Republican from Wyoming, when questioned about Trump’s potential financial involvement.
The Lone Star State presents expensive campaign challenges with 20 separate television markets requiring significant advertising investment. Republican organizations already spent tens of millions supporting Cornyn, who was viewed as the stronger general election candidate. An internal strategy document from Senate Republicans’ campaign committee warned last August that a Paxton nomination would make Texas competitive for Democrats “and cause Republicans to divert hundreds of millions of dollars that would otherwise be spent winning key battlegrounds.”
“There is no doubt that Ken Paxton needs outside money to help him win this race,” commented a Texas political strategist.
Gregg Keller, speaking for the pro-Paxton Lone Star Liberty PAC, expressed confidence that Republican support is solidifying behind the attorney general as the campaign progresses toward Election Day.
“We are thankful to the president for his endorsement and leadership and look forward to joining the Senate majority next year,” Keller stated. “There is no amount of money Talarico can spend to erase his radical and dangerous record.”
Talarico has drawn audiences in traditionally Republican areas of Texas by discussing his Christian beliefs and proposing policies targeting billionaires he claims manipulate working-class anger to serve their own interests. Republican opponents have criticized his religious interpretations and attacked his positions on immigration and gender-related issues. A recent Texas Pulse poll from June 9 shows the candidates in a statistical tie.
“Paxton is now forcing the GOP to develop a completely new strategy for a state they never believed would be in play,” said Lauren French, representing Senate Democrats’ super PAC.
Republicans currently control the Senate with a 53-47 advantage. While targeting Democratic seats in Georgia and Michigan – states Trump won in 2024 – they must also defend positions in several competitive states including North Carolina, Ohio, Maine, Alaska, and potentially Iowa and Texas.
Trump’s affiliated super PAC, MAGA Inc., possesses a $356 million treasury but has not allocated funds for Paxton’s campaign. The organization invested nearly $377 million in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and has spent $1.7 million this cycle supporting Republicans Matt Van Epps and Clay Fuller in special congressional contests in Tennessee and Georgia.
The Senate Leadership Fund, Republicans’ primary super PAC for Senate races, plans to invest $342 million in battleground states this fall, but Texas is not included in their current strategy. The organization declined to provide comment.
“The assumption is that he is” planning to support Paxton financially, said one Senate Republican speaking anonymously about Trump’s intentions. “I think he should. He put his foot on the scale for his candidate that won. So we are assuming that he will.”
The outcome could affect Trump’s final two presidential years. A Democratic Senate majority would gain greater influence over presidential appointments and could launch investigations into the Trump administration through congressional committees.
Representatives for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Senate Republicans showed reluctance to publicly advise Trump on spending decisions during interviews.
“I won’t begin to tell the president what he should do,” stated Senator John Curtis of Utah.
When asked whether Trump’s potential Texas investment would benefit Senate Republicans, Curtis emphasized the president’s autonomy in the matter.
“That’s his funding,” Curtis said. “That’s his decision.”
Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser at MAGA Inc., told Politico the super PAC continues fundraising for campaign expenditures but does not reveal timing or locations for spending. He characterized Texas as an open Republican seat “that we’ll have to ensure that we win.”
Political observers suggest Paxton confronts substantial fundraising obstacles against Talarico, with some attributing responsibility to Trump for creating an unnecessarily close contest.
“National Republicans understand Paxton’s vulnerabilities – at least that he’s likely to run in a close race – and they want to be in a position to do what’s required to pull him through,” explained Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
“And lots of people are pointing the finger directly at Donald Trump because it was his endorsement that created that stampede to Paxton in the runoff.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott represents another potential funding source. Abbott’s political committee, Texans for Greg Abbott, reported nearly $96 million available in February.
Eduardo Leal, press secretary for Texans for Greg Abbott, confirmed the governor supports all Republican candidates but would not specify whether Abbott plans to fund Paxton directly.
“Republicans are united and focused on delivering a decisive victory, and we’re confident Texans will once again reject the radical left’s agenda,” Leal said in a statement.
